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A microenvironment can be defined as the environmental conditions of a relatively small, localized area. The tumor cells in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) most often comprise less than 1% of the cells in the tumor mass, whereas more than 99% of the cells can be considered the microenvironment of these tumor cells. The HL tumor cells probably develop in the context of a deregulated immune response where tumor precursor cells undergo a malignant transformation simultaneously with a tumor-cell-induced adaptation of the composition and reactivity of the inflammatory cells. The tumor cells actively attract specific types of immune cells and they shape the microenvironment to their own benefit. There is an extensive tumor cell promoting and protective cross-talk between the two components. Although the precise function of the microenvironment is not entirely clear, it plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of HL. This chapter describes the current knowledge on the function of the microenvironment, covering both tumor cell promoting signals and immune escape mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]