Experience the Finowkanal

Discover the oldest navigable artificial waterway in Germany

Experience untouched nature in the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve and the Barnim Nature Park, peppered with impressive industrial monuments of the Märkisches Wuppertal. Whether on the water or on land – numerous adventures await young and old explorers. Some of our historic locks are still operated by hand as they were 400 years ago. So make sure you bring enough time to marvel and enjoy.

Adventures for families

Cradle of the Mark Brandenburg industry

Large nature reserves

Navigability of the Finowkanal

Please note that due to renovation works on the historic locks, it is currently not possible to navigate the entire Finowkanal by boat.

For further information, please contact us via email or call the lock management (only German speaking).

Closed locks:

Ruhlsdorf, Leesenbrück, Grafenbrück, Schöpfurt, Heegermühle, Wolfswinkel

Operation on request:

Kupferhammer, Drahthammer
( 24h in advance under: +49 151 724 388 71)

Open locks:

Stadtschleuse, Ragöse, Stecher, Liepe
Start of season 18.04.2026

Water sports area

Discover the region’s waters and their special features.

Lock opening times

Operating hours of the locks on the Finowkanal, Werbellinkanal and Lange Trödel

News from the region

malfunctions

13.05.2026

Restrictions during Treidelfest

Restrictions between Liepe and Stecher from 03.07.-05.07.26

13.05.2026

1. Platz – „Beach & Boat“ überzeugt beim Innenstadtwettbewerb

08.05.2026

Zeitreise Schleusensanierung Heegermühle

29.04.2026

Minister Crumbach besichtigt Schleusen

News

23.04.2026

Lock season opens on the Finowkanal

The lock season on the Finowkanal has started.

malfunctions

15.04.2026

Bridge closure Eisenspalterei

Maintenance work 19.05. - 20.05.

construction log

18.03.2026

Door installation Heegermühle

All four lock gates were installed at the Heegermühle lock.

18.03.2026

Anbietertreffen Finowkanal

Rund 30 Akteure informierten sich über den aktuellen Stand der Schleusensanierung.

construction log

14.11.2025

Update on the 6 lock construction sites

Overview of construction progress at the six lock construction sites

construction log

01.08.2025

Gate installation Ruhlsdorf

At the Ruhlsdorf lock, the gates were inserted in the upper head.

construction log

20.06.2025

Granite stone columns

The historic granite cornerstones were restored and reinstalled in Ruhlsdorf and Leesenbrück.

construction log

02.05.2025

Clinker brick for Ruhlsdorf

The clinker facing bricks are currently being laid at the Ruhlsdorf lock.

malfunctions

17.04.2025

Current lock closures

Overview of the closed locks.

News

14.04.2025

Lock season 2025

Press release on the Finow Canal lock seasons 2025.

construction log

04.04.2025

Backfilling of Wolfswinkel outer harbor

The upper outer harbor at the Wolfswinkel lock is currently being filled in.

construction log

24.03.2025

Sole in Heegermühle

The base of the lock is currently being concreted in the excavation pit at Heegermühle.

construction log

06.03.2025

Wolfswinkel construction road

The construction road is being built at the Wolfswinkel lock.

construction log

28.01.2025

6 locks under construction

Since January 2025, 6 of a total of 12 historic locks on the Finowkanal have been under construction.

News

05.01.2025

Radio Ginseng – Interview on the lock renovation

In December 2024, you could listen to various interviews about attractions in Eberswalde on Radio Ginseng under the heading Brandenburger Orte.

construction log

18.10.2024

Shuttering chamber walls Ruhlsdorf

After completion of the lock floor, formwork work is carried out in Ruhlsdorf.

construction log

13.09.2024

Start of construction in Schöpfurt

With the start of construction at the Schöpfurt lock, a total of five locks are now under construction.

construction log

16.08.2024

Sluice chamber floor

In Ruhlsdorf, the chamber floor was concreted in four sections. This forms the foundation of the future lock.

construction log

06.06.2024

First dry excavation pit

In Ruhlsdorf, the excavation pit was pumped empty (drained) after the excavation water had been neutralized.

construction log

22.05.2024

Grafenbrück bridge

Due to a road bridge, there are two separate construction pits at the Grafenbrück lock.

construction log

05.05.2024

Underwater concreting

In the last few weeks, underwater concreting has been carried out at the first three locations.

construction log

01.05.2024

Micropiles

Micro-grouted piles were installed to anchor the underwater concrete base in a grid of 2 by 2 meters.

construction log

10.04.2024

Start of construction at Heegermühle

Construction work for the replacement of the Heegermühle lock began on Monday, 25.03.2024.

construction log

12.03.2024

Expansion of the control center

The first section of the Finowkanal, the Lange Trödel, already has a control center for controlling the three movable bridges on the Lange Trödel as well as ...

construction log

02.01.2024

Soil and structural investigations SP2

In lock package 2, the necessary subsoil and structural investigations have been carried out in recent months.

construction log

11.12.2023

HDI pillars

Review: September 2023 In Grafenbrück, a road bridge crosses the lock chamber. This will remain in place during the construction work.

construction log

06.11.2023

Underwater demolition

The old underwater lock chambers are now being demolished at the first three locks.

News

25.09.2023

Freiarche Ruhlsdorf

Information on the rediscovered Freiarche in Ruhlsdorf.

construction log

28.08.2023

Reinforcement of the excavation pit

Cross struts are inserted between the sheet piles to ensure that they can withstand the pressure of the surrounding soil.

construction log

05.06.2023

Demolition work

The demolition of the old lock chambers has begun.

construction log

17.04.2023

Start of construction from Ruhlsdorf to Grafenbrück

Construction work has begun on the western sites in Ruhlsdorf, Leesenbrück and Grafenbrück.

construction log

24.03.2023

Demolition of Ruhlsdorf factory building

The historic operations building at the Ruhlsdorf lock is being dismantled.

construction log

10.03.2023

Construction of the construction roads

The construction roads to the lock construction sites are being built.

construction log

17.02.2023

Groundbreaking ceremony

The ZRF celebrates the start of construction with representatives from politics and business with a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony.

construction log

22.06.2022

First property purchase agreement

Symbolic signing of the land purchase agreement for the Ruhlsdorf lock between the ZRF and the GDWS

construction log

04.02.2021

ILB financing agreement

The overall financing of the large, Germany-wide unique pilot project for the basic repair of the first six locks on the Finowkanal has been secured.

Tour tips

Experience the region by paddle and sports boat

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Lock renovation

Construction diary

Since 2023, the historic locks along the Finowkanal have been undergoing gradual renovation.

Our construction diary takes you directly to the construction sites and provides exciting insights into one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects.

Experiences in the region

Experience a unique combination of activity, culture and nature - the Finowkanal region welcomes you!

Cycling tours

Hiking and walking trails

Stay & enjoy

Video

Experience the Finowkanal region from the water!

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A production of the Zweckverband Region Finowkanal with the kind support of WITO GmbH