Küstenkanal
68.46 km | 42.54 mi
Length can differ from official measure!
Kanal
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The Küstenkanal is an approximately 70-kilometer-long federal waterway that connects the Hunte River near Oldenburg with the Ems River near Dörpen, where it flows into the Dortmund-Ems Canal. Built between 1922 and 1935, originally as a drainage canal for the East Frisian moors, it now serves both commercial shipping and recreational water sports. For water sports enthusiasts such as canoeists, rowers, and recreational boaters, the canal offers a quiet and scenic route, although it is considered rather unspectacular due to its straight course and often limited view of the surroundings. Nevertheless, it is an important inland connection between the Weser and Ems rivers.
Harbors and Moorings for Recreational Water Sports
There are only a few specially equipped harbors and moorings for recreational water sports along the Küstenkanal, as it is primarily used as a transit route. The existing ports offer a variety of amenities – from simple, unserviced moorings to modern marinas. Here's an overview:
Oldenburg City Harbor (km 0, Hunte): The Küstenkanal begins in Oldenburg on the Hunte River, where the city harbor serves as the starting point. It is tide-dependent and offers moorings for pleasure boats, operated by, among others, the Oldenburg Water Sports Club. The harbor is closed to the land, restrooms are located in an office building, and the city center is within walking distance.
Berth km 9.2: A simple mooring for pleasure boats without a land connection, more suitable for short breaks.
Schwaneburgermoor Berth (km 32, Friesoyther Canal): A small mooring for one or two small vessels with a shore exit, equipped with benches and a table – ideal for a rest.
Surwold Marina (km 55): One of the few fully-fledged pleasure boat harbors on the Küstenkanal, accessible via a narrow access road. The harbor is sheltered, offers well-maintained docks and moorings, restrooms, a washing machine, and a dryer. Shops and a gas station are nearby, and diesel can be arranged by canister (cart available). The quiet location and family atmosphere make it particularly attractive.
Dörpen-Lehe Water Sports Club Marina (Dörpen Branch Canal, km 64.4): This well-equipped marina is located on the Goldfischdever Canal, near the confluence with the Küstenkanal. It offers modern moorings and is a popular stop just before the Dörpen Lock.
Dörpen Lock (km 64): The western lock of the canal offers limited waiting positions for pleasure craft, although these are often occupied by commercial vessels.
In addition, there are a few docks along the canal without landings, which are hardly inviting for a break. The Elisabethfehn Canal, which branches off at km 29, is navigable for smaller boats (max. 20 m long, 4.5 m wide, 0.9 m draft), but offers no significant moorings for recreational boaters. Special features for recreational boaters
The coastal canal is open to recreational boaters and is bordered by two locks: the Oldenburg Lock (km 1.71) in the east and the Dörpen Lock (km 64) in the west. The maximum vessel size is 100 m long, 10.6 m wide, and 2.5 m draft, although larger boats require a special permit. The following points are relevant for recreational boaters:
Locks: Both locks are passable for recreational boaters, although delays may occur during commercial shipping. The Oldenburg Lock overcomes a height difference of up to 5.4 m (depending on the tide), while the Dörpen Lock overcomes a height difference of 1.2 m.
Infrastructure: There are no gas stations directly on the water; fuel must be obtained on land, for example, in Surwold or Oldenburg.
Landscape and traffic: The canal is lined with trees and is lower than the surrounding area, which limits visibility. Commercial shipping is moderate, but pushed barges can cause swell.
Draft: With a maximum draft of 2.5 m (2.7 m in places), the canal is suitable for most recreational boats, but water levels should be checked during low tides in summer.
Conclusion
The Küstenkanal is more of a transit route than a classic recreational waterway. Highlights such as the Surwold Marina and the Oldenburg City Harbor offer good starting points, while most moorings are functional and simple. It's ideal for a relaxed tour focused on peace and nature, but requires careful planning due to the limited infrastructure. From Dörpen, the route opens to the Dortmund-Ems Canal and the North Sea, and from Oldenburg to the Weser River – a perfect connection for longer waterways.
Harbors and Moorings for Recreational Water Sports
There are only a few specially equipped harbors and moorings for recreational water sports along the Küstenkanal, as it is primarily used as a transit route. The existing ports offer a variety of amenities – from simple, unserviced moorings to modern marinas. Here's an overview:
Oldenburg City Harbor (km 0, Hunte): The Küstenkanal begins in Oldenburg on the Hunte River, where the city harbor serves as the starting point. It is tide-dependent and offers moorings for pleasure boats, operated by, among others, the Oldenburg Water Sports Club. The harbor is closed to the land, restrooms are located in an office building, and the city center is within walking distance.
Berth km 9.2: A simple mooring for pleasure boats without a land connection, more suitable for short breaks.
Schwaneburgermoor Berth (km 32, Friesoyther Canal): A small mooring for one or two small vessels with a shore exit, equipped with benches and a table – ideal for a rest.
Surwold Marina (km 55): One of the few fully-fledged pleasure boat harbors on the Küstenkanal, accessible via a narrow access road. The harbor is sheltered, offers well-maintained docks and moorings, restrooms, a washing machine, and a dryer. Shops and a gas station are nearby, and diesel can be arranged by canister (cart available). The quiet location and family atmosphere make it particularly attractive.
Dörpen-Lehe Water Sports Club Marina (Dörpen Branch Canal, km 64.4): This well-equipped marina is located on the Goldfischdever Canal, near the confluence with the Küstenkanal. It offers modern moorings and is a popular stop just before the Dörpen Lock.
Dörpen Lock (km 64): The western lock of the canal offers limited waiting positions for pleasure craft, although these are often occupied by commercial vessels.
In addition, there are a few docks along the canal without landings, which are hardly inviting for a break. The Elisabethfehn Canal, which branches off at km 29, is navigable for smaller boats (max. 20 m long, 4.5 m wide, 0.9 m draft), but offers no significant moorings for recreational boaters. Special features for recreational boaters
The coastal canal is open to recreational boaters and is bordered by two locks: the Oldenburg Lock (km 1.71) in the east and the Dörpen Lock (km 64) in the west. The maximum vessel size is 100 m long, 10.6 m wide, and 2.5 m draft, although larger boats require a special permit. The following points are relevant for recreational boaters:
Locks: Both locks are passable for recreational boaters, although delays may occur during commercial shipping. The Oldenburg Lock overcomes a height difference of up to 5.4 m (depending on the tide), while the Dörpen Lock overcomes a height difference of 1.2 m.
Infrastructure: There are no gas stations directly on the water; fuel must be obtained on land, for example, in Surwold or Oldenburg.
Landscape and traffic: The canal is lined with trees and is lower than the surrounding area, which limits visibility. Commercial shipping is moderate, but pushed barges can cause swell.
Draft: With a maximum draft of 2.5 m (2.7 m in places), the canal is suitable for most recreational boats, but water levels should be checked during low tides in summer.
Conclusion
The Küstenkanal is more of a transit route than a classic recreational waterway. Highlights such as the Surwold Marina and the Oldenburg City Harbor offer good starting points, while most moorings are functional and simple. It's ideal for a relaxed tour focused on peace and nature, but requires careful planning due to the limited infrastructure. From Dörpen, the route opens to the Dortmund-Ems Canal and the North Sea, and from Oldenburg to the Weser River – a perfect connection for longer waterways.
