Lock renovation
The historic locks on the Finowkanal
The renovation of the locks on the Finowkanal is one of the most important infrastructure projects of recent decades. The federal, state and local authorities are working together to renovate a total of 12 historic locks in order to ensure the navigability of the canal for the next 80 to 100 years.
The construction work is being carried out in several packages: Since the beginning of 2023, all six western locks from Ruhlsdorf to Wolfswinkel are under construction. Its is planned that the work will be completed in 2027, with the first locks gradually going into trial operation in the season of 2026. Preparatory work for the eastern locks between Eberswalde and Niederfinow is also underway.
This means that the Finowkanal will not only remain an exciting technical monument, but also a waterway that can be experienced by visitors and boat tourists in the long term.
Restrictions for boat traffic
The locks from Ruhlsdorf to Heegermühle will be gradually reopened in the 2026 season. Entry from the east (boat lifts) will be via the Liepe lock. From here, the Finowkanal can be navigated as far as the Drahthammer lock (Eberswalde Familiengarten).
For further information, please contact the lock management by telephone on +49 151 724 388 71 or send us an e-mail.
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
Joining forces
Historic infrastructure project
After long negotiations between the federal government, the district of Barnim and the neighboring municipalities and intensive preparatory work, the ground-breaking ceremony for the basic restoration of the 12 historic locks of the Finowkanal took place on 17.02.2023. This important infrastructure project ensures the permanent navigability of the Finowkanal as a former lifeline of industrial development in the region and is unique in Germany to date. In the future, the waterway will primarily be used for leisure boating and is an important building block for the development of tourism in the region. The Zweckverband Region Finowkanal is initially carrying out basic repairs to the first six of the Finowkanal’s twelve historic locks. Construction work began on the three locks in Ruhlsdorf, Leesenbrück and Grafenbrück and the expansion of the control center in Zerpenschleuse for remote monitoring of the locks and will continue successively over the coming years.
