Amsterdam to Lübeck - the Bremerhafen route or via Hannover?

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rolf.nielsen

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We are planning our summer vacation where we'll go from Amsterdam to Lübeck. On advice in this forum I went ahead and bought PC-Navigo and using that I have narrowed our route choice down to essentially two different options: a northerly route that will take us via Bremerhafen/Hamburg and a Southerly route that will take us via Hannover.

I have not cruised any of these canals before so I have no idea which route is best. We are a family of 4 with two small kids (5 and 7) so we'll be looking for short daily trips, some nice towns to spend a few days in, with preference for small cosy and family friendly places and marinas rather than large bustling places. With kids onboard we'll want to avoid long stretches of boring/industrial areas as they will quickly lose interest.

Our boat's a Grand Banks 36, 11.3m loa, 4.2m air draft, 1.22 draft, 3.9m beam.

I welcome your comments/tips, opinions and experiences!

I have attached screenshots of the two routes.

Bremerhaven-Lubeck.jpgHannover-Lubeck.jpg
 
Given the size of your vessel, you will need to plan very carefully, bearing in mind your air draft.

If you go to www.european-waterways.eu/e/info/germany, that gives you an interactive map
of german canals and rivers. You can click on a waterway to find out maximum draft, height, etc.

For example, Mittelland Kanal ( Osnabruck to Hannover and further ) has a max air draft of 4m.
For Bremerhaven to Hamburg via Elbe-Weser and Hadelner Kanal max air draft is 2.6m

Be advised that air draft is average figure and may vary significantly.

Also, check licensing requirements, need for ATIS, etc.

I have not cruised these waterways so cannot offer tourist advice.

Hope this helps,

Andy
 
Have just checked your proposed route from Bremerhaven to Elbe after posting above.

I see that you are considering to try to cross inside the Scharhorn.

Unless you are utterly familiar with that area, I submit that such a course would be
extremely unwise. Although there are marked channels, they are through shifting shallows
only accessable at the top of the tide and subject to strong tidal flows. For the sake of
saving a couple of hours it's not worth the risk.

Andy
 
In the summer Nordsea is not bad.In fair winds.
You can go out from Ijsselmeer over Wadense stay at Vlieland then go to Borkum or Helgoland.
Or direct Harlingen Cuxhaven,that is often the best.
Thats the way we go,but we have no other alternativ due to our vessels size.
 
Thanks for the tips so far. Perhaps I should clarify that the two routes are workable with my boat according to PC-Navigo so at this point I'm primarily trying to find out which route will be the most fun to do. I gave the dimensions in case anyone would have third options in mind.
 
If you opt for the northern route, then find an alternative to the Bremerhaven to Cuxhaven bit. There are canals which would do it, but I have no idea if they would be suitable for you. You can go outside that section by going right outside the SCharhorn to the Elbe buoys and in along the main ship route into the Elbe. I have done that several times, and it is easy given good weather, but you may have to wait for the swell in the German Bight to die down before it becomes a comfortable passage. Read the first bit of Riddle of the sands before deciding on going inside the Scharhorn!
 
I have done Hanover to Lubeck both ways a number of times en-route to the Med. Not many locks because it is fairly flat. The German canals tolerate pleasure boats because they have to but do not like it.

The general rule is that the locks are free if you share a lock with s commercial vessel. My last trip down there was three years ago and I got into trouble when I entered the massive lifting thing at the entrance to the Mittelland canal. I thought all the barges lining the approach were on holiday break because it was high summer. Wrong. All the alarms and tannoys blasted off. A tug chased me in and literally dragged y boat out backwards. I was threatened with heavy fines. The problem is, in Germany, that the lock keepers speak only German and and are arrogant goose-stepping authoritarians that expect you to wait patiently for them to call you in but jump to Snell Snell when they find a space almost big enough for your boat.

Believe me you will notice a tremendous difference in the attitude between Dutch and German staff.

To balance my rant I must say that the yacht club staff at the various clubs and marinas between Lubeck and the Baltic are kind and generous. They operate a green/red marker system on the mooring slots.
 
If you decide to take the northerly route through Holland I suggest you do not go through Flevoland but around it to the east. Inside the canals are quite deep below shore and it is probably VERY boring for the kids. There are no marina's but at the entrance and exit.

Going around gives you much more change of scenery and more choice in marinas.

After Flevoland your proposed route goes through more or less the east of Holland.
If you go a bit more westerly through Friesland, It would be a bit more lively and a bit more geared towards boating.

As previously stated, going across the IJsselmeer is also an option if the wind is not above, lets say force 5.
 
When you get to Lubeck, as well as buying a year's supply of marzipan, make sure you visit the puppet museum, with examples from around the world.
 
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