A container is constructed to have a variable volume, wherein a basic container has a bottom panel and a roof panel, one or more hinged side panels are rotateable about a horizontal axis, and one or more expansion elements are telescopeable out of the basic container and having a bottom panel, a side open toward a front the basic container and a front panel opposite the open side. The one expansion element(s) is/are open toward the top and, in a telescoped state, the roof panel is formed by a raised side panel of the basic container. One or more hoisting devices is associated with each expansion element and with which the expansion element is lowerable. Thereby, after the one or more expansion elements are telescoped out, the bottom panels of the expansion element(s) and of the basic container are at the same height and also so that the expansion element(s) is insertable back into the basic container after being lowered. The hoisting device(s) is/are configured to act on the hinged side panel to lower and raise the at least one expansion element.