Shipping canal

Lippstadt on the water: the shipping canal as a lifeline for the city
A breakthrough for shipping

Until 1830, shipping on the Lippe through Lippstadt was hindered by mills. This changed with the construction of the shipping canal and a lock in today's Grüner Winkeln in 1830. Suddenly ships could pass through the town unhindered and transport goods such as coal, wine and salt. Lippstadt developed into an important transshipment point.

The heyday of shipping traffic in Lippstadt
The years between 1830 and 1850 marked the heyday of shipping traffic on the Lippstadt Canal. The transportation of goods such as coal, salt, timber and agricultural products reached its peak in 1841. In that year, an impressive 600,000 hundredweight of goods were transported upriver and 1,500,000 hundredweight downriver. The town benefited enormously from this flourishing trade, as the canal made Lippstadt an important transshipment point. The Green Winkeln, where the lock was once located, is a reminder of this important era.

Traces of the past and new uses
But the upswing was short-lived. The decline of shipping began with the opening of the railroad in 1850. The railroad offered a faster and more flexible means of transport, making shipping increasingly unattractive. Freight traffic on the canal was drastically reduced and finally ceased in 1884. The lock in the Grüner Winkeln lost its function and was dismantled.
Discover the last remnants of past shipping history and Lippstadt's green oasis.

Learn more about the importance of the canal for the development of the town. Visit the Green Winkeln and let your imagination run wild!