With a length of 325 kilometres the Mittelland Canal is Germany's longestartificial waterway. However, the most important link between the Ruhr area and Berlin is still far too often regarded by pleasure boaters as a mere ferry route across the North German Plain. However, the MLK can certainly score points with exciting shore leave and attractive harbours, which we present on the following pages. You should therefore plan a few extra days for your next trip between west and east!
Marina Merschmeyer
MLK-km 12.4 Restaurant, water depth: 1.80 m, service: per metre 1 €/day, electricity 1.50 €/day, water, showers 1.50 €, washing machine, barbecue area. Tel. 0176/82 09 23 44. www.marina-merschmeyer.de
OSNABRÜCK
is also advertised as "The City of Peace" because of the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. A stroll through the old town centre, which is well worth seeing, makes a calm and unagitated impression. The venerable St Peter's Cathedral dominates the cityscape; the cloister around the flourishing inner courtyard of the late Romanesque cathedral is particularly inviting. In addition to the beautiful art gallery, which is housed in a former monastery church, there are many small art shops to discover here.
Osnabrück MYC
Osnabrück branch canal km 6.0 Lively harbour with jetty lighting and berth for disabled guests. Water depth: up to 2.20 m. Service: per metre €1/day, electricity €2/day, environmental tax €0.50/day, shower tokens €1. Tel. 01525/631 90 99. www.omyc.de
MBC Nautico
Osnabrück branch canal km 6.0 A small, family-run harbour with beautiful facilities. Water depth: 1.30 m. Service: €1.20/day per metre, electricity, shower and rubbish from €2.50/day. Tel. 0160/97 36 11 38. www.motorboot-club-mbc-nautico.de
BAD ESSEN
has a saltwater and spa park in addition to the beautiful old town centre, which was designed as part of the 2010 State Garden Show.
Marina Bad Essen
MLK-km 61.3 The new city harbour has been located opposite a shopping centre since 2015. Water depth: 1.80 m. Service: per metre €1.20/day (min. €10/day), electricity, water, satellite TV flat rate €2/day, waste disposal €5, shower/WC flat rate €3/day, washing machine and tumble dryer. Tel. 0175/554 36 72. www.marina-bad-essen.de
MYC Mittelland
MLK-km 62.0 Situated below a busy bridge. Guest jetties have been modernised. Water depth: 1.70 m. Service: €1/day per metre, electricity and water €2.50 flat rate, shower €1, free bike hire, barbecue area. Tel. 0170/384 43 34. www.mycm-be.de
WSV Preußisch Oldendorf
MLK-km 70.7 Quiet facility, but exposed to the swell. As compensation there is a sunset panorama. Water depth: 1.20 metres. Service: 1 €/day per metre, electricity 1 €/day, water: voluntary donation to the DGzRS collection boat. Tel. 0163/ 817 52 13. www.wsv-pr-oldendorf.de
MYC Lübbecke
MLK-km 80.0 Beautiful harbour with restaurant and terrace in front of the jetties. Water depth: 1.80 m. Service: 1 €/day per metre, 1 €/day per person (from 16 years), electricity, water, rubbish, showers included, waste disposal 5 €, clubhouse with catering and open bookshelf, diesel on request (from 200 l). Tel. 05741/31 07 10.
MINDEN
At the Minden waterway junction, the Mittelland Canal crosses the Weser with two trough bridges. Right next to the old canal bridge from the imperial era, which is now a listed building, a new one was put into operation in 1998. The old town with the Gothic St Gorgonius Cathedral and stately houses in the Weser Renaissance style is a worthwhile excursion destination. On the opposite bank of the Weser is a beach with an inviting beach bar.
Minden Yacht Club
MLK-km 97.0 A well-kept and quiet harbour with a restaurant and terrace directly in front of the jetties. The supermarket and the bus to Minden city centre are just a few minutes' walk away. Water depth: 1.80 m. Service: 5 m 6.50 €/day, 10 m 12.50 €/day, 15 m 19.50 €/day, electricity up to 9 m 1.50 €/day, up to 12 m 2 €/day, over 12 m 3 €/day, WC, rubbish, water flat rate 1.50 €, refuelling service if requested in good time. Tel. 0571/614 93. www.mindener-yacht-club.de
Marina Idensen
MLK-km 135 Harbour entrance shortly before the bridge with the Kaliberg in the background. The harbour is well protected from swell. Treasure Island" restaurant. Good shopping facilities available in Wunstorf (accessible by bus). Water depth: 1.70 m. Service: per metre € 1.20/day, electricity € 2/day, shower € 0.50, water included. Tel. 05723/815 48.
HANNOVER
The state capital of Lower Saxony scores with a wide range of offers for guest sailors and day trippers. When exploring the canals, skippers will come across a wide variety of marinas, while land travellers can head for attractive excursion destinations by bike or by bus and train. The Herrenhausen Gardens are ideal for stretching your feet after a long canal trip. Other highlights include the New Town Hall, whose dome can be reached by a unique arched lift, and the nearby Maschsee lake. The Sprengel Museum of Modern Art is not only recommended for bad weather. www.sprengel-museum.de
Marina Rasche
Hanover-Linden branch canal km 1.0 Quaint shipyard area with harbour bar and bistro. Stone-baked pizza for €5 on Wednesdays. 1.5 km to Seelze railway station, from there 11 minutes to Hanover. Service: per metre €1.30/day, shower €2, electricity €3, water included, repair service, tel. 0163/845 54 75. www.marina-raschewerft.de
Marina Seelze
Hann.-Linden branch canal km 2.4 Just a few minutes' walk to the S-Bahn in the direction of Hanover. Idyllic harbour with garden atmosphere and restaurant. Thermal baths in Seelze. Service: per metre 1.20 €/day, electricity 0.50 €/kWh, water according to consumption, shower 1.50 €, washing machine. Tel. 0171/532 43 79. www.yachthafen-klingenberg.de
Lower Saxony Motorboat Club
Leine descent channel Early registration with the harbour master is recommended. Beautiful cycle route (5 km) along the canal and the Leine towards the city centre. Service: Prices: per metre 1.50 €/day, electricity
2 €/day, water 1 €/100 litres. Tel. 0172/481 65 20. www.nmc-hannover.de
Hanover marina
MLK-km 163 Bus stop 5 minutes away, from there line 128 to the city centre in 17 minutes. Restaurant boat, boat petrol station. Service: €1.20/day per metre, €3/day per person including electricity, shower, water, washing machine and waste disposal. Tel. 0173/173 44 88. www.yachthafen-hannover.de
Hanover Motorboat Club
MLK-km 171 (Misburg branch canal). Service: per metre 1 €/day, 1 €/day per person (from 18 years), shower 0.50 €, washing machine and dryer, Tel. 0511/958 52 55. www.hmc-hannover.org
Motorboat-Club-Sehnde
MLK-km 184 Harbour basin only for boats up to 8.5 m and 1 m draught. Larger boats can moor on the canal side. Free hire bikes are available for shopping. Service: 1 €/m, electricity as required, barbecue area. Tel. 05138/32 09. www.motorbootclub-sehnde.de
Peine Water Sports Club
MLK-km 201 Restricted sunbathing facilities. Costs are freely negotiable with the friendly sports enthusiasts, call in good time. Tel. 05171/510 66. www.wassersport-club-peine.de
Marina Bortfeld
MLK-km 213 Modern marina in a former gravel pit. The harbour master must be contacted to pass the bascule bridge at the harbour entrance. Catering facilities. Water depth: 2 m. Service: Berth €10/day, €4/day per person, WC/shower, electricity and water included. Tel. 0160/670 06 73. www.marina-bortfeld.de
Marina Heidanger
Salzgitter branch canal km 3 A feel-good harbour with first-class catering. Water depth: 2 metres. Service: €1.40/day per metre, electricity according to consumption, shower €2, bike hire. Tel. 05302/64 00. www.restaurant-heidanger.de
BRAUNSCHWEIG
Henry the Lion, who developed Brunswick into a royal seat in the 12th century and helped it to power and fame, is still omnipresent today. In addition to the splendidly reconstructed Dankwarderode Castle, he also had the Romanesque cathedral built. In addition to the impressive quadriga that crowns the completely reconstructed castle, the "Happy Rizzi House" with its pop art façade provides a successful counter-accent.
Brunswick Motorboat Club
MLK-km 217 The harbour is protected from the canal and waves by a movable gate. The Am Grasplatz bus stop is 1.5 km away, from where it takes 20 minutes on the 416 bus to the town hall. Water depth: 1.50 m. Service: €1.20/day per metre, €1/day per person including electricity, water, shower, WC and rubbish. Tel. 0176/31 67 15 35. www.bmc-braunschweig.de
YC Hoffmannstadt Fallersleben
MLK-km 235 Water depth: 1.30 m, Rewe and Netto supermarkets 1.5 km away. Service: up to 8 m 8 €/day, up to 12 m 11 €/day, over 12 m 1 €/m, electricity 3 €, shower included, washing machine, bike hire, playground, barbecue area. Tel. 0157/77 72 97 15. www.ychf.de
WOLFSBURG
No other city is as closely associated with the success story of Volkswagen as Wolfsburg, as it was founded in 1938 with the laying of the foundation stone for the plant. It is no wonder that the Autostadt, which combines a delivery centre, museum and leisure park, is the city's biggest crowd-puller. While the car bodies pile up into the sky in the car towers, the lagoon landscape attracts visitors with its nature ( www.autostadt.de ). Other excursion destinations include Wolfsburg Castle and the "phæno", a museum for natural science and technology. www.phaeno.de
Wolfsburg Motorboat Club
MLK-km 246 If you are not averse to the "wolf howl" of VfL, this is the place to be: nowhere else can the skippering football fan get so close to a Bundesliga stadium. The Autostadt is also within walking distance. Water depth: 1.50 metres. Service: €1.50/m including rubbish, water and WiFi, shower €1, electricity €0.50/kWh, washing machine. Tel. 0171/613 97 16. www.1-motorbootclub-wolfsburg.de
Calvörde marina
MLK-km 286 Water depth: 2.10 m. Service: up to 5 m € 7, per additional m plus € 1, € 2/person, electricity € 2, WC, shower and water up to 100 litres included. Tel. 0171/757 16 57. www.sportboothafen-calvoerde.de. Tip: the "Waldhotel" with restaurant 100 metres away. www.waldhotel-grieps.de
Haldensleben marina
MLK-km 300 Water depth: 1.70 m. Service: Prices: €1/m plus €1/person (minimum price €7), showers €1, water €1/100 litres, electricity €0.50/kWh, waste disposal €5. The refuelling service can be used if booked in advance. Tel. 0176/631 73 03 09. www.sportboothafen-haldensleben.de
MAGDEBURG WATERWAY JUNCTION
The imposing hydraulic structure, which at 918 metres long is considered the largest trough bridge in Europe, carries the Mittelland Canal over the Elbe foreland and Elbe to connect it with the Elbe-Havel Canal. The waiting time until the authorised crossing by the control centre can be shortened with a walk on the bridge, from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding area. In this case, it is also worth taking a look below the "edge of the plate": when you descend, the structure, which was completed in 2003, reveals its true size, accompanied by the twittering of thousands of swallows nesting there. www.wasserstrassenkreuz-magdeburg.de
