Kiel Canal - Nord-Ostsee-Kanal

The high bridge at Rendsburg is probably the most famous bridge over the Kiel Canal. The trains cross the canal here at a height of 42 m

The 98.26 km long Kiel Canal, also known as Kiel Canal (called Kaiser Wilhelm Canal in Germany until 1948), connects the North Sea at the mouth of the Elbe with the Baltic Sea in the Bay of Kiel. It is the most frequented artificial waterway for seagoing ships worldwide (30,269 ships passed it in 2017) and saves ships from having to travel around 250 nautical miles around Jutland, through Skagerrak and Kattegat.

background

Map of Kiel Canal

Ferries in Brunsbüttel, in the background: locks

Ship encounter in the Kudensee switch

MS CHARLOTTA B near Hochdonn on the way to Hamburg

On a cargo ship through the Kiel Canal

Sunrise in front of Brunsbüttel, view from the Elbe to the decommissioned Brunsbüttel nuclear power plant

The Elbe pilot disembarks, the canal pilot comes on board

The MS DORNBUSCH enters the lock in Brunsbüttel

The MS DORNBUSCH has moored in the Brunsbüttel lock, followed by the MS GRETE SIBUM

Exit from Brunsbüttel lock

Exit from Brunsbüttel lock, the marina on the right

Ferries cross the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel

Hochdonn railway bridge

Railway bridge in Hochdonn

"Sehleute" at the Hochdonn railway bridge

Grünental high bridge

Lookout point at the Grünental high bridge, foundation of the old high bridge

Lookout point at the Grünental high bridge, foundation of the old high bridge

MS HANNI - two-way traffic in the Kudensee switch

Two-way traffic in the Kiel Canal

Ferry fishing hut

Two-way traffic in the Kiel Canal (museum tugboat WOLTMAN on return journey from Kieler Woche 2015)

Rüsterbergen pilot station

Change of pilot in the Kiel Canal near Rüsterbergen

Nübbel, old pilot station

Rendsburg ahead, with high bridge and transporter ferry

Rendsburg, ship greeting and café bridge terrace

Lürssen shipyard (formerly Kröger shipyard) in Schacht Audorf, luxury yacht

A7 motorway bridge at Rade

Sehestedt, ferry, church, RV park

Entrance to the Kiel-Holtenau lock

Kiel-Holtenau, lock: it's narrow, but it fits!

Kiel-Holtenau, Thiessenkai

Busy traffic on the Kiel Fjord after the end of the Kiel Week

Laboe seen from the water, on the left the naval memorial

The Kiel Canal runs through Holstein, it partially forms the border with southern Schleswig. In terms of its importance, the Kiel Canal is not only an important part of the regional economy, but also an essential component of the European transport network. Due to its travel and time advantages, it represents a great economic advantage for international shipping. Driving on the canal brings considerable travel advantages, depending on the port of departure and destination, an average of 250 nautical miles (463 km). Depending on the speed of the ship, a skilful route selection can avoid a high loss of time and save fuel. The CO2 emissions are therefore also considerably lower.

The Kiel Canal is also an attraction for thousands of tourists every year. Side by side with container ships, sport boats and luxury liners, well-developed service routes along the canal offer an ideal area for hikers, joggers and cyclists.

Almost the entire length of the Kiel Canal is accompanied by hiking trails and cycle paths. It crosses different landscapes and reaches interesting cities. It is therefore suitable as a panorama trail. Incidentally, the cycle paths are largely Two-lane roads made of concrete and therefore rather unsuitable for multi-lane bicycle trailers. Detours to the surrounding towns enable interesting stages with many overnight accommodations. For route descriptions and further information, see Cycling compass, Wheel pilot. Tip: Those who just want to cross the canal and don't necessarily want to enjoy the view from one of the few bridges that are over 40 m high for pedestrians and cyclists should use the ferries.

The canal is spanned by 10 bridges, all of which have a clearance height of 42 m, but only a few are permitted for pedestrians or cyclists. The bridges in Hochdonn and Rendsburg are pure railway bridges. The bridges in Brunsbüttel , Hohenhörn , Rade and Levensau are reserved exclusively for motor vehicle traffic. In addition to walking or cycling, only the Grünentaler high bridgeL 316, the old Levensauer high bridge K 24 and the two bridges (Prince Heinrich Bridge and Olympic Bridge) in Kiel during the be used.

On 14 Ferry stations the canal can be crossed. All ferries on the canal are free, including the transporter ferry in Rendsburg, which is well worth seeing. The ferries run 7 days a week, 24 hours around the clock and commute from bank to bank as required. They enable pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles weighing up to 38 t to safely pass through the canal. Only the ferry between Kiel-Wik and Kiel-Holtenau is the only one that does not carry motor vehicles, and its operation is limited in time (Mon-Fri 06: 30-22: 00; Sat-Sun holidays 09: 30-22: 00).

In Rendsburg there are 2 tunnels. The Pedestrian tunnel With its 4 escalators, each 55.9 m, which was the longest in Europe, it enables pedestrians and cyclists (access via elevator) to cross under the Kiel Canal around the clock. The tunnel is monitored by video. As a tourist you shouldn't miss a walk through the tunnel. The 54.28869.656111 Canal tunnel in the course of / is a pure tunnel for motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists are not allowed to use it. It connects the northern districts of Rendsburg with Westerrönfeld.

In 12 Switches Even the largest ships can meet in the canal (passing points).

Various shops along the canal Campsites and RV parks to observe the lively shipping traffic. In addition to the "official" seats, there are some free seats on almost every ferry.

The maximum speed for ships in the canal is 15 km / h (8.1 kn) - for ships of traffic group 6 or a draft of more than 8.5 m: 12 km / h (6.5 kn)

For seagoing vessels, the greatest length is 235 m, the greatest width 32.5 m.

The Kiel Canal is particularly easy to experience from the navigating bridge of a cargo ship as a passenger Freighter voyage.

The canal is also very often used by cruise ships. The sight of the dream ships up close is quite impressive. So that you don't miss a ship: This offers a year-round schedule and up-to-date telephone information Waterways and Shipping Office. The schedule is also available as a Download PDF take away.

Around 14,000 pleasure craft use the Kiel Canal every year.

Sports vehicles are only allowed to use the canal during the daytime. Due to the heavy shipping traffic, special ones apply Precautions. There are berths for pleasure craft in Brunsbuettel, in a few places in the canal and in the Kiel-Holtenau marina right in front of the lock.

The Kiel Canal may not be sailed on; Exception: the area around the lock port Kiel-Holtenau. The Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration publishes traffic regulations and other regulations for the use of the waterway as Leaflet.

getting there

The most important cities on the Kiel Canal are:

53.8963888888899.13861111111111 Brunsbuettel can almost only be approached by motor vehicle. A rail connection does not exist. Bus connections are only possible through intercity buses.
54.3044444444449.66444444444442 Rendsburg can be reached both by road, by train and by long-distance bus.
54.32333333333310.1394444444443 Kiel can also be reached by road as well as by train and long-distance bus. You can also travel to Kiel by ship.

Detailed information on how to get there can be found in the articles for the aforementioned locations.

course

Map of the Kiel Canal

The course of the canal from west to east:

ferry Audorf in front of the Burg ferry terminal (Dithmarschen)

Grünentaler high bridge

Rendsburg transporter bridge

Dithmarschen

Brunsbuettel with its beautiful old town is the ideal starting point for exploring the Kiel Canal. On the 4th Lock chambers (the 5th is under construction) 2 viewing platforms offer a direct view of what is happening in the locks. Lock tours provide interested people with deep insights. A 53.89899.13351 Indoor swimming pool with several well-tempered pools is a good idea in bad weather. The wonderfully situated 53.889089.130552 outdoor pool on the Elbe dike offers a unique view of the Elbe during the season. From the sunbathing lawn, the shipping traffic on the Elbe and the lock access can be observed perfectly.
549.26666666666674 Castle (Dithmarschen) is officially recognized as a climatic health resort. Burg has earned the name “Pearl of the West Coast” through its two different natural spaces, the Geest and marshland. The generous one 54.00149.25363 Forest swimming pool invites on hot days to refreshment and play and fun on its 80 m giant slide.
54.1455555555569.28755 Albersdorf (Dithmarschen) close to Grünentaler high bridge. Albersdorf is an attractive stage destination for cycle tourists that is a bit off the beaten track. You can see, among other things. one 54.1383239181019.29013929652351 Stone Age Park (Open-air museum) and a 36 m high for those who do not suffer from vertigo 54.14289.29341 Observation tower with a beautiful panoramic view. The Dithmarschen Stone Age Park is an archaeological open-air museum with an outdoor area of around 40 hectares. Visitors receive information about how people in northern Germany lived in the Neolithic Age 5,000 years ago. A circular hike leads through different epochs, all age groups are addressed.

Central Holstein

The center of 54.1666666666679.43333333333336 Oldenbüttel lies on the south bank of the canal. A canal ferry enables it to be crossed. There is an alternative point for shipping at Oldenbüttel.

The 54.1841479.4409142 Gieselau Canal flows out of the 54.1999.463 Eider coming, near Oldenbüttel in the Kiel Canal. With a length of 2.8 km it connects the Untereider and Kiel Canal. It can be navigated by ships up to 65 m in length, 9 m in width and 2.70 m in draft. Today it is mainly used by pleasure boats. The Gieselau lock compensates for the difference in altitude between the two bodies of water. There is a handicapped-accessible fishing spot at the lock barrier-free.
The canal reaches the 54.06679.733334 Aukrug Nature Park.

The 54.21929.605562 Rendsburg-Schachtholm airfield(ICAO: EDXR) directly on the Kiel Canal offers not only a nice restaurant but also an affiliated one RV park. It is located 16 km south of Rendsburg. From here, wonderful individual sightseeing flights can be started when the weather is nice. It is advisable to contact the airfield in advance by telephone (Tel. 49 (0) 4337 220) in order to coordinate details.

Rüsterbergen pilot station

At 54.269.62972222222227 Schülp is the 54.24439.61463 Rüsterbergen pilot station. Here the canal pilots change ships. The new pilot climbs from the moving pilot transfer boat over a rope ladder on board the ship, which is also moving, and takes the helm on the ship's navigating bridge. The disembarking pilot then climbs onto the pilot boat using the rope ladder. You can watch the "spectacle" very well from the bank of the canal. Details as pdf

At 54.2741666666679.62333333333338 Nübbel, Central Schleswig, the canal runs along the Eider. Both bodies of water are in parts only separated from each other by a road. The remarkable windmill Anna in the village is a Dutchman and has been used as a local museum since 1982.

54.3044444444449.66444444444449 Rendsburg shines with its historic city center and its direct location on the canal. The city is essentially from the canal and the 54.30559.65545 Eider locked in. The railway bridge crosses the canal. The city has a lot to offer with its beautiful center. A visit should not be missed. Several RV sites offer ideal overnight accommodations for a visit, mostly with a direct view of the canal.

In 54.3097222222229.720555555555610 Schacht-Audorf the Lürssen shipyard (formerly: Krögerwerft) is based. There, among other things, Luxury motor yachts. The canal ferry connects ideally with Rendsburg. The RV park directly on the canal bank offers an excellent view of passing ships.

The canal reaches the nature park east of Rendsburg 54.41679.756 Hüttener Mountains, Central Schleswig.

The village 54.3666666666679.816666666666711 Sehestedt is divided by the canal, a ferry connects both parts. The place was first mentioned in 1282. The Romanesque stone church of St. Peter and Paul, which is located directly on the canal today, was built at the beginning of the 13th century and first mentioned in 1318. One is interesting 54.3669.79414 Infopark about renewable energies not far from the place. The Market meeting Not only groceries from producers in the region, but also a snack with a magnificent view of the canal and some RV sites.

The Holstein one 54.259.916677 Westensee Nature Park is also only a few km from the Kiel Canal. One comes closest to 54.3166666666679.966666666666712 Backguard to this area, just before the city limits Kiel.

Ostholstein

With the city Kiel also becomes the peninsula Danish charity reached. The north bank belongs to southern Schleswig. Kiel is the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein and, as an important ferry port, the gateway to Scandinavia and the Baltic States.
At 54.372810.141913 Kiel-Holtenau the Kiel Canal flows into the Kiel Fjord, a bay of Baltic Sea.

Tourist Attractions

Lock systems in Brunsbüttel from above

One of the two viewing platforms

The 53.8941388888899.14561111111118 Lock systems in Brunsbuettel with information center and 53.89389.14372 Viewing platform are absolutely worth seeing. The completion of the 5th lock chamber was planned for 2021 (Details). Problems with the anchoring system and suspected ordnance areas, however, lead to delays that have an impact on the date of the opening of traffic. The 5th lock chamber will not go into operation before the end of 2026Template: future / in 5 years to be possible. The attached Lock museum also offers further interesting information about the lock and the history of the canal. Lock tours offer a lot of information.

The 53.92179.195839 Brunsbüttel high bridge in the course of crosses the channel. At 2,831 m, it is the longest bridge over the Kiel Canal and is therefore also one of the longest bridges in Germany. As with all high bridges over the Kiel Canal, the clear passage height for ships is 42 m. The car bridge is not accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

The 54.01619.297510 Hochdonn railway bridge is an important railway bridge on the Hamburg - Sylt route and one of the most interesting bridges on the canal. In the vast undeveloped landscape, it looks quite impressive and is well worth a detour. It was put into operation in 1920 after World War I delayed construction. The total length including the ramps is 2,218 m, making it the fourth longest railway bridge in Germany. The largest span for actually crossing the canal is 143.10 m, the weight of the entire steel structure is 14,745 t. That corresponds roughly to the weight of 10,000 VW Golfs! The structure is reserved exclusively for rail traffic and is not accessible. It is still possible to cross the canal at this point using the ferry that runs right next to the bridge.

The 54.12479.3293311 Grünentaler high bridge is a road and rail bridge over the Kiel Canal at km 31.0. The bridge offers one of the few possibilities to cross the canal by bike or on foot without having to use a ferry. There is a cycle and footpath that leads over the structure. From the western side a descent leads down to the canal. There is a memorial on the western bridgehead of the old bridge. An information board shows a picture of the old high bridge and provides information about the local history. The place is also well suited for observing ships on the canal.

The 54.29069.66454 Pedestrian tunnel 130 m long in Rendsburg, opened in 1965, should not be missed as a tourist. On each side of the canal, 2 escalators each 55.90 m long and 1 elevator lead down 27 m. At the time of installation in 1965, the escalators were the longest escalators in Western Europe. The tunnel is monitored by cameras. Here you can also cycle wonderfully under the ships.

54.29359.6826312 Rendsburg railway bridge with transporter bridge. The transporter bridge was opened to traffic on December 2nd, 1913, declared a "Technical Monument" in 1988 and registered for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. Guided tours on the Viewing platform at a height of 40 m, 178 steps, only take place in the summer months (duration: 60 min., dates: May to September every Sunday 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm, € 5 per person, meeting point at the railway bridge on the south side; Info: Tel. 04331-21120)

On January 8, 2016, the transporter bridge was badly damaged in a collision with a cargo ship and is up probably summer 2021 out of order.
Due to insufficient utilization, the regular operation of a replacement ferry was discontinued. This only drives to certain Times
Alternative canal crossings: Nobiskrug ferry, pedestrian tunnel, vehicle canal tunnel.

Ship greeting Rendsburg
Levensau high bridge
Ferry ADLER 1
Tiessenkai in November
Paddle steamer FREYA in lock

A Ship greeting system in the 54.29449.68351 Bridge terraces right next to the high bridge on the bank of the canal offers a lot of information about the passing ships, the cargo and the ports of destination.

54.349.74982 Brewer's Aalkate, Schirnauer See 5, 24790 Rade. Tel.: 49(0)4331 91561, Fax: (0)4331 91297, Email: [email protected]. Aalkate directly on the canal, fish restaurant, own smokehouse, fish sales, tours with the Börteboot, herring festival (always at the end of March / beginning of April).Open: 01.05. - 04.10 .: daily 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. / 05.10. - 12.03 .: Wed - Sat 11.30 a.m. - 2.00 p.m. & 6.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. / Sun: non-stop.last change: not specified

The 54.367810.075813 Levensau high bridge is a combined railway and road bridge from the first canal construction period (1894). It is already in the urban area of the Schleswig-Holstein state capital, Kiel. Due to its arched geometry, it significantly restricts the passage width of the canal. In order to enable ship encounters, the NOK is to be widened in the area of this narrow point and the bridge is to be replaced by a new construction. (Historical view: NDR time travel)

The 54.368510.122114 Olympic Bridge is the eastern of the two high bridges that cross the Kiel Canal between the districts of Holtenau and Wik. It was built to relieve the traffic situation on the Prince Heinrich Bridge, which until then was the only bridge. There is one-way traffic on these two bridges. The eastern Olympic Bridge offers an excellent view of the locks from a height of almost 50 m. Since it is not allowed to stop on the bridges, a large parking lot was created on the southern access ramp to the Olympiabrücke. From there it is only a few hundred meters to the bridge.

Kiel-Holtenau lock