Century past: The Elbe-Lübeck Waterway begins operation
Taking a dive into the history of Elbe-Lübeck Canal:
The thrilling tale of the Elbe-Lübeck Canal traces its roots back to the medieval times, preluded by the Stecknitz Canal, constructed between Lübeck and Lauenburg between 1392 and 1398. This pioneering waterway is commonly recognized as the first European canal ever built. Fast-forward to 2025, Werner Hinsch from the Elbe Shipping Archive in Lauenburg shares insights with us, stating, "The main task was essentially connecting two rivers - the Stecknitz in the north and the Delvenau in the south, separated by a height ridge in Mölln."
Ah, but what extraordinary cargo was transported? Salt, baby! Salt from Lüneburg, to be precise, starting in 1398. The river of white gold flowed for a whopping 500 years, compliments of the "Stecknitz prames" - just a tiny, shallow-drafted ship type designed to navigate through the canal's narrow, shallow sections.
Into the 19th Century
In the waning years of the 19th century, the salt trade took a nosedive, giving way to the grand opening of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal, later known as the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal, in 1895. This colossal shift led to plans for a revamped canal that would incorporate segments of the old Stecknitz route.
Peter Rehder, a visionary engineer and water director of Lübeck, took the reins of this ambitious project. In Hinsch's words, "Rehder had an absurd sense of scale, understanding the size that the locks and canal cross-sections should be. The goal was for large Elbe ships, already in use on the route to Hamburg, to also make it to Lübeck."
The star of the show back then was a magnificent vessel, 79 meters long and 11.60 wide. It was a Herculean task to make the locks and canal accessible to these giants, with thousands of workers employed in the construction, shoveling and carting 105 million cubic meters of earth to make this dream a reality.
A colossal achievement, born mostly of hard work and sweat
With the groundbreaking ceremony on May 31, 1895, one thing was clear: this was a monstrous project. It took just under five years of relentless digging, straightening, and securing before the canal was finally flooded and navigable - a whopping 62 kilometers long and boasting a water depth of 2.50 meters.
Hotoppsche principles governed the locks, utilizing water power from the canal's upper water to fill and empty lock chambers - no electricity or steam power needed. In all its modern marvel, the Lübeckers saw the Elbe-Trave Canal as a direct rival to the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal.
Kaiser Wilhelm II's Grand Entrance
The canal's grand opening on June 16, 1900, was a sight to behold. A flawless summer day gave way to a star-studded guest list of around 1,200, festive streets, and an euphoric crowd eagerly awaiting Kaiser Wilhelm II. His arrival andribbon-cutting ceremony aboard the steamer "Lubeca" marked the birth of a dynamic new inland waterway that would significantly impact Lübeck, industry, and commerce.
The Elbe barge No. 57 carrying brown coal marked the canal's first day in operation. The project had cost nearly 23 million marks.
A Boost to the Economy
Alas, the Stecknitz Canal could no longer meet the economic requirements of the industrial era, so the new canal came to the rescue, significantly boosting the Lübeck harbor, developing industrial and commercial sectors, and ultimately leading to the Elbe-Lübeck Canal's renaming in 1936.
As per Werner Hinsch, "Lübeck wanted to shine, to be recognized. Renaming the canal in their favor was actually an unusual procedure for waterways, as they are typically only combined with other waterways."
The canal reached its pinnacle in utilization during its first decades in 1939, with 2.5 million tons of goods transported. Post-WWII, the Elbe-Lübeck Canal played a significant role in the reconstruction of Hamburg, with massive quantities of gravel transported by ship for the city's needs.
Navigational Challenges
Unfortunately, the Elbe-Lübeck Canal's boom didn't last forever. By 1999, only 1.1 million tons of goods were transported, with most of the 1,600 freight ships using the canal barely loaded due to insufficient water depth. The current water ships simply could not be fully loaded, making navigation uneconomical.
The ships grew, but the then seven locks were too small. To accommodate larger vessels, the Lauenburg lock was extended to 115 meters in 2005 for around 40 million euros.
Alas, the demanding waters of politics made their mark once again in 2020 when the federal government put the expansion project on ice due to the canal's low economic utilization.
A serene getaway
Today, the Elbe-Lübeck Canal serves as a tranquil oasis for tourists and locals alike. With verdant meadows, forests, and quaint villages stretching around, it's a picturesque treat for the eyes. Sports boats venture along its waters, and cyclists crowd the flat towpaths. What Kaiser Wilhelm II could not have even dreamed of - a charming recreational spot.
Modern economic activities and industries were revolutionized with the completion of the Elbe-Lübeck Canal in 1900, as finance, transportation, and trade sectors experienced considerable growth. The canal facilitated the transport of various goods, particularly coal and aggregates, from the port of Lübeck, contributing significantly to the region's financial resources and the overall industrial growth.
