Locks
The glacial region presents a challenge for shipping: there is a 38-metre difference in height to overcome between the Malzer Canal near Liebenwalde and the Oder-Havel Canal near Liepe. On the Finow Canal, this is achieved with the help of 13 locks, some of which are still operated manually by a lock thrower.
Finow Canal lock operation
Lock operating times 2025
17.04. – 27.10.2025: daily 9.00 – 16.45
Bitte beachten Sie: derzeit werden die Schleusen Ruhlsdorf, Leesenbrück, Grafenbrück, Schöpfurt, Heegermühle und Wolfswinkel saniert. Eine schrittweise Öffnung der ersten fünf Schleusen ist für die Saison 2026 geplant.
Die Schleuse Wolfswinkel bleibt auch in der Saison 2026 außer Betrieb, so dass eine durchgängige Befahrbarkeit des Finowkanals nicht möglich ist.
Maximale Geschwindigkeit: 6 km/h
Voraussetzungen für Befahrung: führerscheinfrei
Maximale Bootsmaße L x B in Metern: 41,50 x 5,10 m
max. Tiefgang: 1,20 m
Bridge opening times 2025
Lifting bridge Eisenspalterei: no opening hours. Only boats with a clearance height of less than 124 cm in relation to 435 cm at the upper level of the Drahthammer lock can pass the lift bridge.
Niederfinow bascule bridge: as required
Aktuelle Informationen & Kontakt
Kontakt Schleusenmanagement Finowkanal:
Telefonisch zu Schleusenbetriebszeiten: +49 151 724 388 71 oder per Email unter: tourismus@finowkanal.info
Aktuelle Informationen zum Schleusenbetrieb, Störungen oder Sperrungen finden Sie auch ELWIS oder auf unserer Seite Meldungen für Bootsfahrer.
Aktuelle Pegelstände finden Sie unter pegelonline.
Befahrbarkeit Finowkanal
Aufgrund der Sanierung der historischen Schleusen ist der Finowkanal derzeit nicht durchgängig mit dem Boot befahrbar.
Für weitere Auskünfte erreichen Sie das Schleusenmanagement telefonisch unter +49 151 724 388 71. Oder senden uns eine Email.
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
Under monument protection
Locks with history
The Finow Canal is the oldest navigable artificial waterway in Germany. It has connected the Havel with the Oder for more than 400 years and was one of the most important transport links in the Mark Brandenburg for a long time. In 1603, Elector Joachim Friedrich Wilhelm gave the order to connect the Havel with the Oder at Liebenwalde via the small river Finow. After opening in 1620, the canal fell into disrepair during the Thirty Years’ War. In 1743, the Finow Canal was restored with a modified route and more stable locks.
Lock operation Langer Trödel
Lock operating times 2025
17.04. – 30.09.2025
- Upward transfer: every hour from 08:50 to 17:50
- Downward transfer: every hour from 09:10 to 18:10
01.10. – 27.10.2025
- Upward transfer: every hour from 09:50 to 16:50
- Downward transfer: Every hour from 10:10 to 17:10
Brückenöffnungszeiten 2026
18.04. – 18.10.:
- Klappbrücke L100 Zerpenschleuse: stündlich 9:35 – 17:35 Uhr
- Hubbrücke Forststr. Zerpenschleuse: 10:15; 13:15; 16:15 Uhr und nach Bedarf
- Klappbrücke L21 Liebenwalde 8:30 Uhr; stündlich 09:45 – 16:45 Uhr; 18:10 Uhr und 19:30 Uhr
Niederfinow boat lift operating times
Operating times of the boat lifts
01.01. – 31.12.2025.: daily 6 .00- 22.00 h
Waiting times are to be expected due to the legally prescribed break times for lock staff. Interruptions to operating times will be announced on notices at the locks. The responsible waterways and shipping authority may temporarily set and announce different operating times for traffic or operational reasons.
Lock operation Werbellinkanal
Lock operating times 2025
28.03. – 30.09.: daily 7.00 – 21.00
10.10. – 31.10.: daily 8.00 – 18.00
01.11. – 17.11.: daily 8.00 – 16.00
To get from the Finow Canal to Lake Werbellin, you pass through the Rosenbeck and Eichhorst locks. Both locks are automated and remotely monitored. Locking on request by the user is controlled by a signal system. Please note that in summer there may be one or two-hour block clearances due to a lack of water in Lake Werbellin. Information on this can be found at:
Rules for transit
- The fenders should be deployed before entering the lock area. Lines and boat hooks must be kept ready to hand.
- As a general rule, you should enter the lock area at a moderate speed.
- Overtaking is prohibited in the lock area when approaching the lock.
- The landing stages of ferries or passenger ships must be kept clear.
- Locks are operated in the order of arrival, unless otherwise specified by the lock staff.
- Public authority vehicles and rescue vehicles that are on the move to carry out official duties generally have priority over locks.
- When entering the lock, vehicles must reduce their speed so as to avoid colliding with the lock gates or other vehicles.
- If small vehicles are locked together with other vehicles, small vehicles may only enter the lock after the other vehicles.
- It is forbidden to make noise in the lock chamber.
- Use fenders to soften the impact that is common in shipping.
- Never tie up lines in the lock, but fiddle (= the controlled releasing or tightening of a line with which the boat is held in the lock on bollards, rings or ladders).
- Please note that large vehicles can generate a high propeller current when exiting.