the german youth hostel association () or djh is a not-for-profit, registered association ("eingetragener verein"). it was founded in 1909 to create an organized network of affordable and safe accommodation away from home for travelling school and youth groups and individuals all over the country. today, the hundreds of member hostels in the association still cater to school and youth groups but most are also open to anyone else looking for an alternative to hotels - families, backpackers, business travellers, etc. through the state ("bundesland") associations it is the representative of the 536 youth hostels in germany (as at 2013) and thus the largest member of the international youth association, hostelling international (hi). the headquarters has its seat in detmold and is divided into 14 state associations and 218 local and county volunteer associations. it has more than 2 million members.