Anyone who has decided to go on a Ruhr area cruise can take around 250 kilometres of waterways under their keel. The Rhine and Dortmund-Ems Canal are the access routes, followed by the Rhine-Herne Canal, Wesel-Datteln Canal and Datteln-Hamm Canal.
Admittedly, none of them have the charm of enchanted waterways. No matter! The "Pott" has other qualities - plenty of culture, history and entertainment. And nobody has to miss out on nature, especially on the Ruhr. On the following pages: the most important waterway data and our top ten locations in alphabetical order.
1st Rhine
Between the entrance to Duisburg's outer and inner harbour (Rhine km 776.6) and the mouth of the Wesel-Datteln Canal (Rhine km 813.2) there are just under 37 km of river. Locks: none on this section. Maximum speed: none. Character: lots of commercial shipping. Special features: From Rhine kilometre 769 to the German-Dutch border, it is compulsory to drive on the right. An inland navigation licence is required on the entire Rhine from 5 hp engine power (otherwise from 15 hp).
2. dysentery
The Ruhr is navigable from the mouth (Rhine km 780.1) to km 41.4. Locks: 5 (some subject to tolls). Maximum speed: 12 km/h (Mülheim lock to Ruhr km 13.8: 6 km/h, 1 March to 15 June between Ruhr km 34.10 and Ruhr km 37.10: 6 km/h). Bridge height: 6.50 m to Mülheim, 4.75 m to Baldeneysee, 3.15 m above Baldeneysee. Character: very idyllic from Mülheim onwards. Special features: Above Mülheim, the Ruhr is a state waterway. Navigation is regulated by the Ruhr Navigation Ordinance (RuhrSchVO). Important regulations: The buoy line must be observed. Motorboats may only cross Lake Baldeney within the marked navigation channel. See all conditions: brd.nrw.de.
3. Rhine-Herne Canal
The Rhine-Herne Canal (RHK) runs from the harbour of Duisburg-Ruhrort (Rhine km 780.4) to the Dortmund-Ems Canal near Henrichenburg (DEK km 15.5). A connecting canal branches off to the Ruhr at RHK km 1.39. Length of the RHK including the Duisburg-Ruhrort harbour canal: just under 48 km. Locks: 5. Maximum speed: 12 km/h. Bridge height: 4.50 m. Character: popular freight transport route with respectable cultural and leisure facilities.
4. Dortmund-Ems Canal
From Dortmund's southern harbour, the Dortmund-Ems Canal (DEK), which is around 226 km long, heads for the Unterems. After around 30 kilometres of canal, the DEK leaves the Ruhr region. Locks: 1 on the
section. Maximum speed: 12 km/h. Bridge height: 4.25 m (4.50 m between km 1.4 and km 21.5). Character: typical Ruhr area ambience with a top destination: the old Henrichenburg boat lift.
5. the Wesel-Datteln Canal
At Rhine kilometre 813.2, the route enters the Wesel-Datteln Canal (WDK). The waterway, which is a good 60 kilometres long, runs along the northern edge of the Ruhr area and flows into the Dortmund-Ems Canal (DEK-km 21.5). Locks: 6. Maximum speed: 12 km/h. Bridge height: 4.50 metres. Character: also heavily travelled, but surprisingly green.
6. the Datteln-Hamm Canal
The Datteln-Hamm Canal (DHK) begins at DEK-km 19.5 and ends after around 47 kilometres of canal in Schmehausen. Locks: 2. Maximum speed: 12 km/h. Bridge height: 4.00 metres. Character: Structural change - you can experience it here. Example: the Marina Rünthe yacht harbour.
(Note: clearance heights depend on water level)
Top ten locations
1st Automobile and Motorboat Club Castrop-Rauxel
The AMC maintains two harbour basins at RHK-km 38.5, a well-kept, well-equipped club facility with a recommendable restaurant. Services: including special guest berths, electricity/drinking water, boat refuelling station (diesel), sanitary facilities, crane ( www.amc-wassersport.de ). Excursion tip: former Herne-West lock.
2nd Hanse Marina Dorsten
Friendly facility close to the town at WDK-km 27.1. Nice harbour café! Services: including 28 berths, electricity/drinking water, boat refuelling station (diesel), sanitary facilities ( www.hanse-marina-dorsten.de ). Excursion tip
tip: Atlantis Dorsten water park.
3. marina Duisburg
Some will no longer include it in their personal top ten list. The facility in Duisburg's inner harbour (access Rhine km 776.6) doesn't seem to be very popular at the moment: empty boxes, some of the jetty areas are obviously getting on in years, the boat filling station is out of order. A pity, because
the surroundings are worth a stop.
Services: including 133 berths, electricity/drinking water, sanitary facilities ( www.duisburg.de/micro2/
marina ). Excursion tip: Inner harbour with restaurants and museums.
4th Marina Flaesheim
For many skippers, it is the most beautiful marina in the "Pott". No wonder: the harbour (WDK-km 50.7) is located away from the canal at the entrance to a former quarry pond, surrounded by greenery. Services: including 15 guest berths, electricity/drinking water, sanitary facilities, slip and crane in the immediate vicinity ( www.flaesheim.freizeit-oasen.de Excursion tip: Flaesheim amusement park.
5th Preußenhafen Lünen
You can't miss the waterway rest area at DHK-km 14.1 (max. mooring time 72 h): The landmark is the historic Mohrkran (in operation from 1964 to 1996). There is a pretty harbour house with a snack bar. Homemade meatballs, homemade cakes and more are served. The local currywurst is said to be the best in the area! Services: including a 70 metre long mooring platform on the eastern shore, electricity/drinking water, sanitary facilities, crane ( www.preussenhafen-luenen.de ). Excursion tip: Seepark Lünen.
6 Marina Oberhausen
Fancy a change? Then the Oberhausen marina at RHK-km 10.2 is the perfect destination. There are several attractions within sight of the harbour. Services: including 60 berths, electricity/drinking water, sanitary facilities, crane ( www.marina-oberhausen.de ). Excursion tips: CentrO shopping and leisure centre (with restaurants, no supermarket), Aquapark adventure pool, Sea Life Aquarium, Legoland Discovery Centre, Gasometer.
7th Ribbrock marina
The sheltered harbour (DHK km 1.9) is adjacent to a campsite. Good steakhouse with terrace in the harbour. Services: 86 berths, electricity/drinking water, sanitary facilities, slip. Excursion tip: historic town centre of Waltrop (approx. 15 min by bike).
8th Marina Rünthe
A top-class harbour (DHK km 23.3): almost 300 boat moorings, several restaurants, almost Mediterranean flair. Commercial shipping on the canal is limited, the DHK ends just 24 km further east. Services: including jetty for guest berths, electricity/drinking water, boat refuelling station (diesel/super), sanitary facilities, slip, crane ( www.yachthafen-marina-ruenthe.de ). Excursion tips: Beversee nature reserve, Maximilianpark Hamm (approx. 1 hour by bike).
9. dysentery
The Ruhr was made navigable at the end of the 18th century. It is said to have been the busiest river in Europe as early as 1800. And today? Pure relaxation reigns here, at least on the section
section above Mülheim. Moorings: e.g. km 8.4 (Yacht Club Mülheim/Ruhr,
www.ycmr.de ); km 12 (Mülheim city harbour, ( www.muelheim-ruhr.de/tourismus ); km 22.2 (MBC Kettwig); km 25.8 (Essener Outboard-Club, www.eoc-essen.de ). Excursion tips: Mülheim water railway station, historic old town of Kettwig.
10. lock park Waltrop
At the junction of the DEK and RHK, no fewer than four descent structures have accumulated over the course of around a hundred years. Fascinating: A footpath leads through the drained former lock chamber of the Alte Schachtschleuse. Moorings available: DEK-km 15.4 (Yachtclub Hebewerk Henrichenburg, www.ychh-henrichenburg.de Motorboat Club Lüdenscheid, www.mcl-luedenscheid.de ); DEK-km 15.8 (Lünen Motorboat Club, www.mbc-luenen.de). Excursion tips: Old boat lift (in operation from 1899 to 1970, now an industrial museum); tourist information on the Waltrop lock park can be found on the website www.hebewerk-
henrichenburg.de
From A to Z
Create
In addition to the harbours mentioned here, there are other possibilities for mooring. For details see literature and links.
Boat licence
Anyone operating a boat with more than 15 hp must be in possession of an inland navigation licence. This basic rule also applies to the Ruhr. Please note: On the entire Rhine, a boating licence is compulsory from 5 hp.
Bicycles
Take your bike with you - sights, shops and restaurants are not always close to your berth. Longer excursions are also possible: There are over 1200 kilometres of cycle paths to explore in the Ruhr region.
Links
Directorate-General for Waterways and Shipping,
Branch Office West: www.wsd-west.wsv.de
Düsseldorf District Government www.brd.nrw.de/verkehr/schifffahrt_schiffsverkehr_haefen/index.jsp
Ruhr Tourism: www.ruhr-tourismus.de/
events/experience routes/sportbootrevier.html
Literature
From the Rhine to the North and Baltic Seas. Rivers and canals between the Rhine, Ems and Elbe by Manfred Fenzl. Edition Maritim, Hamburg, 7th, updated edition 2014, ISBN 978-3-89225-733-2)
The Rhine. From the Rhine Falls to the North Sea and the IJsselmeer. Neckar to Heidelberg and Lahn to Limburg by Manfred Fenzl. Edition Maritim, Hamburg, 7th, updated and expanded edition 2015, ISBN 978-3-667-10007-8
Level of difficulty
The Rhine and West German canals are challenging areas, as leisure skippers encounter intensive commercial shipping. On the Ruhr, on the other hand, even beginners can manage well.
Refuelling
WDK-km 27.1 (diesel): Hanse Marina Dorsten,
www.hanse-marina-dorsten.de
RHK-km 38.5 (diesel): AMC Castrop-Rauxel,
www.amc-wassersport.de
DHK-km 23.4 (diesel/super): Marina Rünthe marina, www.yachthafen-marina-ruenthe.de
The future
The "Recreational boating tourism in the Ruhr region" funding programme, launched in 1998, was intended to make the waterways of the "Potts" fit for boating tourism. Around 10 million euros were invested at the time. Today, almost twenty years after the start of the project, the "SportbootRevier Ruhrgebiet" has become quiet - but only around the brand. Because water sports in the region are as lively as ever.
Charter
Yachtcharter Knuth, Bergkamen-Rünthe, motor yachts (8,30 m to 12 m)
Contact: Tel. 02389/53 64 28, www.yachtcharter-knuth.de
Grüne Flotte, Mülheim an der Ruhr, motorboats without a boating licence
licence, including Daycruiser (6.50 m) and Escargot (6.00 m/6.12 m)
Contact: Tel. 0208/74 04 98 75, www.gruene-flotte.de
ruhr-boote.de, Mülheim an der Ruhr, motorboats without boating licence
licence (2.61 m to 4.35 m), motorboats with licence (6.40 m)
Contact: Tel. 0208/307 70 85 86, www.ruhr-boote.ruhr
