Wedel
Wedel (Holstein) · Schulauer Hafen · Willkommhöft
53°34.6'N 09°42.4'E
Depth
3–6m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m for Wedel anchorage in 3–6m tidal mud. The current here is 2–3kt — less severe than central Hamburg but still requires full tidal anchoring protocol. Set at HW slack; 6:1 scope minimum.
About This Anchorage
Wedel is the last major anchorage before Hamburg — 14nm downstream from the city centre on the Holstein (north) bank of the Elbe. The Willkommhöft (Welcome Point, 1952) is Wedel's famous attraction: a national tradition where every ship entering or leaving Hamburg is greeted with its national anthem and the German 'Moin Moin' — 70,000 ships per year pass this point. The anchorage is quieter than central Hamburg, with a pleasant small-town atmosphere and direct train connections to Hamburg (25 minutes). The Schulauer Hafen has good facilities and is a popular staging post for cruisers preparing for the Hamburg transit or heading out to the North Sea via the lower Elbe. Tidal range 2.5–3m at Wedel.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S
Exposed To
W · NW · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (river anchorage); Schulauer Hafen marina approx €16–22/night
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: NO anchoring in Fahrwasser; VHF Ch 73 Elbe Traffic mandatory; large ship wash; tidal range 2–3m at Wedel.
Hazards
- !Significant commercial ship wash — vessels to/from Hamburg pass at close range; 0.5–1m wash common
- !Tidal currents 2–3kt; set anchor at HW slack
- !NO anchoring in main Fahrwasser — strictly enforced
- !VHF Ch 73 Elbe Traffic mandatory when underway
Skipper's Tips
- →The Willkommhöft ship-greeting ceremony is one of the great Elbe experiences — sit on the terrace at Willkommhöft restaurant and watch container ships pass while drinking Riesling
- →Wedel makes an ideal overnight stop before or after a Hamburg visit — quieter than city anchorages but with train access
- →The Elbe tidal cycle: flood runs E-NE for 6h; ebb runs W-SW for 6.5h. Plan all passages on the favourable current — saves 2–3kt.
Facilities
Wedel town centre (15 min walk): restaurants, supermarket, bakeries. Willkommhöft terrace restaurant overlooking the Elbe — excellent for watching ships pass. Direct train to Hamburg (25 min).
Nearest provisions: Wedel town centre (15 min walk) (0.8nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, July, August, September
May–September. Year-round accessible but winter tidal conditions make summer strongly preferable.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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