Exploring Hamburg's Free Port in June: Location Revealed
Gear Up for an Electric Summer: Harburg's Inner Harbor Vibrates with Concerts, Stand-Up Paddling Bash, and More! Unveiling the Grand Arrival Parade's Location and Time.
- Immerse yourself in the Museumshafen Harburg, unraveling its rich past aboard historic ships during gratis harbor tours.
- The Inner Harbor Festival stirs things up with a pulsating house and techno concert on a cherished scow-steamer.
- Sports enthusiasts can catch their breath amidst adrenaline-fueled regattas and stand-up paddling competitions on the pilot channel.
"Gear up for an unforgettable adventure in our free harbor tours. We've got a one-of-a-kind experience waiting for you at the Museumshafen Harburg (MuHaHar) during the 23rd Harburger Binnenhafenfest," insists Erik Schröder. From June 13th to 15th, the waterfront, canal square, and pilot channel will be bustling with festivities, food, play, and ship-spotting. There's no shortage of watery excitement!
Harburg's Inner Harbor Festival: Highlights on the Water
More than a dozen vessels set sail from the canal square on Saturday and Sunday, beckoning passengers aboard for a tour of the inner harbor's hidden gems. Erik, the skipper of the privately-operated boat "Johanna", a tiny cargo sailing ship that used to ferry goods from Elbe marshes to Hamburg, promises a memorable voyage.
A fleet of 16 ships, including 4 mooring boats, 2 tugboats, 2 pilot boats, a former work tugboat from the Wadden Sea, the "Spikkerpeter" barge from Helgoland, and more, will be looping continuously without stops all week. Show your gratitude for this memorable trip by contributing to the preservation of these watercraft.
Caribbean Treasures Aboard the "Avontuur"
Several ships extend warm welcomes along the quay. The "Avontuur", a yearly visitor to Harburg that brings coffee, cocoa, and rum from the Caribbean, will be gracing us with its presence once again. This year, the crew will be transporting cargo while sailing across the Atlantic. If everything goes as planned, unloading will occur following the festival.
Afloat in Harburg: More to Savor
- Seaside Gourmet: The Hafenkantine - A Restaurant Directly on the Water
- Home Away from Home: Jonathan, the Comfortable Houseboat in the Inner Harbor
- More S-Bahnen to Harburg: What's Inside the New Coalition Agreement
"Sauger IV" will be moored beneath the Yellow Cultural Crane once more. This propulsion-less "scow-steamer", built in 1909 in Lübeck, aided in the expansion and upkeep of Hamburg's harbor for 80 years. If it weren't for its dredge-material transporting prowess, Wilhelmsburg island could have been swelled by half a meter with sand during its operational period.
Repurposing the Past: Techno Stage Rises from the Waves
Last year's harbor festival will see the "Sauger IV" taking on a unique role: hosting a house and techno concert on Saturday, June 14th. Other historic ships will be showcased, but a newcomer stays aboard: the research boat "Vektor" from the Fraunhofer Centre for Maritime Logistics (CML).
Originally a police boat, the "Vektor" was converted into a test and development vessel for the CML, debuting in service in February. The CML aims to achieve autonomous driving, and the boat serves as a perfect platform for their work. The Fraunhofer Centre invites you to visit them during their open day on Saturday, displaying the "Vektor".
Harbor Festival: Catch the Grand Arrival Parade at the Canal and Lotse Canal on Sunday!
- 12 p.m.: A nail-biting rowing competition will set the stage between two teams of South Elbe e.V. and Technical University students, piloting their own pedal-powered boats.
- 2 p.m.: A whopping 12 Schloss Island residents will battle it out in the Schloss Island Cup stand-up paddleboarding contest.
- 1–2 p.m. on Saturday: Prepare for the Harburg Museum Ships and Floating Guests Grand Parade. Led by Werner Pfeifer's energetic announcements, each vessel will be introduced as they coast along the festival mile. This dazzling event will be audible for all festivalgoers thanks to a newly installed sound system. So, mark your calendars for Sunday, June 14, and head over to Kanalplatz and Lotsekai to witness the spectacle!
Experience the unique blend of the Caribbean and German maritime culture by visiting the "Avontuur", docked at the quay during the festival. (Caribbean, quay)
Enjoy a lively house and techno concert on the historic "Sauger IV" boat, located at the Inner Harbor Festival. (lifestyle, home-and-garden, travel, Sauger IV, concert)
