125 years of the Elbe-Lübeck Canal: history, culture and future in focus!

125 years of the Elbe-Lübeck Canal: history, culture and future in focus!

Celebrates on June 16, 2025Elbe-Lübeck Canalits 125th anniversary - an important birthday for this important waterway in Schleswig-Holstein. The canal, which was built between 1895 and 1900 and was first used asElbe-Trave Canalwas known, connects the Elbe near Lauenburg with the Baltic Sea in Lübeck. Loud NDR The anniversary will be celebrated with a special podcast that covers the history of the canal, its construction and its development in detail. Hosted by Petra Volquardsen, the show will air on June 15, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. and will be available until June 15, 2027.

The exciting narrative ranges fromStecknitz canal– the historical predecessor, which was built between 1391 and 1398 – to the challenges that the canal has to overcome today. Those interested can also watch exciting reports from on board the passenger shipSerrahn Queenand a trip with leisure captain Hans-Jürgen on theDinahexpect. Tips for a relaxing bike tour along the canal from Daniel Kaiser round off the program.

Cultural summer and more

This is particularly worth mentioningCultural summer on the canal, which will take place from June 28th to July 28th and delight visitors with music, theater and literature. The Elbe-Lübeck Canal is of considerable importance not only for pleasure boats, but also for cargo ships. Around 2,500 freight ships and 5,000 pleasure boats are counted here every year.

With a total length of 61.55 km and seven locks - including the famous Lauenburg lock, which is designed for ships up to 115 meters due to its size - the canal is a technological masterpiece. The locks, originally designed for ships up to 80 meters long, represent an important infrastructure, but also bring with them current challenges. Loud Wikipedia The expansion of the canal was estimated at 800 million euros in the 2030 Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan, but this has been stopped since 2020 due to various circumstances.

Importance for the region

The Elbe-Lübeck Canal is not only of great economic relevance - as is the Shipping Association mentioned – but also an increasing leisure value. Cycling and hiking trails along the shore offer locals and tourists alike the opportunity to explore the picturesque landscape. The towns and communities that lie along the canal, such as Lübeck, Büssau and Krummesse, benefit from this special water system, which creates a connection between important trade routes.

The 125th anniversary of the Elbe-Lübeck Canal will not only be a reason to celebrate, but also an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of this waterway for the region. Whether cycling, hiking or relaxing sailing - the canal offers something for everyone. Let's look forward to the upcoming festivities and programs that will give us summer experiences on the water!