Plötzensee lock

Plötzensee lock is a double-chamber facility on the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal that connects waterways between the Upper Havel and Spree rivers. Each chamber spans about 67 meters in length and 10 meters in width, allowing vessels of various sizes to pass through.

Construction started in 1906 as part of the Berlin-Stettin waterway project and the lock opened to traffic in 1912. It solved the problem of moving ships between different water levels and improved Berlin's connection to surrounding waterways.

The name comes from pike fish that once lived in these waters. Today visitors can watch from the banks as ships pass through and water levels are adjusted between the chambers.

The best viewing point is from the northern embankment path where you can watch the entire lock operation. Keep in mind that the southern chamber is no longer active, so all traffic flows through the northern chamber.

The lock was built with innovative technology for its era and showed Berlin's ambition to position itself as an international trade hub. Today it remains less known than other Berlin landmarks but offers insight into the quieter side of the city's development.

Location: Berlin

GPS coordinates: 52.54340,13.32358

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:07