Canals and short cuts
Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal)
The world's busiest artificial waterway, saving 460 km between the North Sea and the Baltic, with free passage for pleasure craft from 2027.
10 episodes on the chart
- Length
- 98.26 km (about 53 nm)
- Locks
- 2 lock complexes (Brunsbüttel and Kiel-Holtenau)
- Opened
- 20 June 1895
- Transit time
- About 8-10 hours for a yacht, daylight only
- Max dimensions
- Ship limits 235 m length, 32.5 m beam, 9.5 m draft; fixed bridges 42 m clearance (about 40 m air draft)
- Operator
- German Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV)
The Kiel Canal, opened in 1895 and widened 1907-1914, runs 98 km from Brunsbüttel on the Elbe to Kiel-Holtenau, cutting about 460 km off the trip around Denmark. The German waterways authority (WSV) runs it, and seagoing locks sit at both ends.
Pleasure craft may transit the canal without a pilot, in daylight only and not in restricted visibility. Skippers register at the locks (VHF or telephone), and must be able to reach a designated yacht mooring before dusk. The speed limit is about 15 km/h (8 kn), engine under power, with sails normally only as an aid. Until the end of 2026 a fee applies, reported at roughly 12-43 euros by length, and from 1 January 2027 passage for pleasure craft is reported free.
Typical passage takes most of a day, often with a night at a canal mooring, sharing the water with big ships under bridges of 42 m clearance.
Highlights
- Shortcut from the North Sea to the Baltic
- Giant ships passing close alongside
- Pleasure craft passage free from 2027 (reported)
- Historic Rendsburg high bridge and ferries
Watch out for
- Yachts need to be moored before dark, with no night transit without a pilot
- Speed limit about 8 kn (15 km/h), so plan for a long day
- Register at the lock and follow ship traffic rules; big ships have priority
- Fee rules change, so check the current WSV notices
Episodes on this route 10
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Transiting the Kiel Canal with an electric motor
Kiel Canal Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
In this weeks episode I set off with my friends to go through the Kiel canal. Onboard with me I have my dog Neno and my friend Linn and in the little yellow boat I have my friend Elea.
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99 km durch den Nord-Ostsee-Kanal – Endlich in Brunsbüttel!
Brunsbüttel Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Die zweite Hälfte unserer Fahrt durch den Nord-Ostsee-Kanal! Nach unserer Übernachtung an der Gieselauschleuse geht es auf die letzten Kilometer durch den Nord-Ostsee-Kanal bis nach Brunsbüttel.
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Kiel Canal – SHORTCUT to the Baltic | Sailing Florence Ep.235
Kiel Canal Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Weaving our sailboat between cargo ships we sail through the Kiel canal and find it to be a surprisingly green and pleasant experience.
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Meine erste Fahrt über dem Nord-Ostsee-Kanal
Marina Wendtorf Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Ich habe meine erste Überfahrt auf die Ostsee gemeistert. Es ging über dem NOK bis Nach Kiel. Wo wir dann die Marina Wendtorf angelaufen sind. Eine wirklich spannende Überfahrt mit vielen Eindrücken.
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Transiting Kiel Canal on a Sailboat
Kiel Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
We sail from Wilhelmshaven through the North Sea to Brunsbüttel on river Elbe, where we enter the Kiel Canal and motor it’s full length to Kiel.
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Crossing the Kiel Canal 🚢 A Major Milestone Southbound - EP 44
Kiel Canal Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Crossing the Kiel Canal southbound was one of the most demanding passages so far aboard our Bavaria 44, S/Y Aries.
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Mit dem Segelboot durch den Nord-Ostsee-Kanal - Törn von Kiel nach Cuxhaven
Cuxhaven Lower Saxony, Germany
SOMMERTÖRN 2025, Teil 20, 26. Ich bin auf dem Rückweg von meinem Norwegen-Törn und in Kiel Düsternbrook angekommen. Hier gönne ich mir einen Tag Pause, bevor es in den Nord-Ostsee Kanal geht.
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Sailing the Kiel Canal to the Baltic Sea! ⛵ (S3_E12)
Kiel Canal Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Welcome to Pimpinboats! We explore the world of sailboats and sailing, bringing you adventures at sea, sailing techniques and exciting stories from the nautical world.
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From the North Sea to the Baltic | Our Catamaran’s Kiel Canal Adventure (Ep.2)
Kiel Canal Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Welcome back guys! Thank you for tuning in again, and if you're new here...welcome! In this episode, we cross the Kiel Canal from the Baltic to the North Sea, as we experience the first of many locks aboard our catamaran!
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Through the Kiel Canal to the North Sea – Sailing from Sweden to Brazil [3.02]
Kiel Canal Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Next leg of our journey to Brazil is through the Kiel Canal to reach the North Sea! Fast forward to October 2023, we took the plunge again and bought a Wasa 530, a sailboat that had been sitting idle for over 15 years.
Crews on this route
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A summary for learning and dreaming, not for navigation. Rules, fees, seasons and security advice change: check current official sources before you go.