Lühe

About This Anchorage

Lühe is the anchorage in Germany's famous Altes Land ('Old Land') — the largest contiguous fruit-growing region in northern Europe, covering 13,000 hectares of apple, cherry, and pear orchards directly behind the south bank of the Elbe near Hamburg. The Dutch/Flemish settlers who drained and cultivated this land from the 12th century created a unique cultural landscape — old farmhouses with Dutch-baroque gables, dike-protected orchard fields, and the fragrant apple blossom of late April transforming the entire riverside into pink and white. The anchorage off the Lühe mouth gives direct access to this extraordinary fruit landscape. The small harbour at Lühe has a tidal quay; the Altes Land cycle path runs past orchards for 50km along the Elbe. In season (July–October), apple and cherry juice and schnapps are sold at farm shops directly accessible by dinghy.

Hazards

• !Tidal Elbe — strong ebb current 2–3kt; set anchor at HW slack
• !Commercial shipping wash from Hauptfahrrinne (main channel to north)
• !Tidal creek at Lühe dries at LW — bilge-keel boats only

Skipper's Tips

• →Visit in late April–early May for the Altes Land apple blossom — one of Germany's great natural spectacles; the orchards are 15 min by dinghy and foot from the anchorage
• →In July–October, the farm shops (Hofladen) along the dike path sell fresh-pressed apple juice and cherry schnapps — arrive by dinghy, fill the cockpit with bottles
• →The Altes Land cycling route from Lühe to Hamburg (40km, flat, along dike tops) is a superb half-day excursion while the boat is at anchor — rent bikes at Stade

Nearby Anchorages