Beats & Cruise on the MS Schwalbe II

Dancing on the Ruhr

Kemnader Lake, situated between Witten, Bochum, and Hattingen, is one of the most popular excursion destinations in the southern Ruhr area—a reservoir of the Ruhr completed in 1979, lined with cycle paths, beer gardens, and the Freizeitbad Heveney. In the middle of it all, the MS Schwalbe II, the passenger ship of Stadtwerke Witten, usually commutes as a cozy excursion boat. With the "Beats & Cruise" series, the ship is converted into an open-air club on the water on selected evenings.

Eight Dates, Three Themed Parties

The 2026 season includes eight dates between May and September. The season kicks off on Friday, May 15th. Three of the dates are designated as themed parties: Saturday, May 16th, is the 80s Party, Saturday, August 15th, the 90s Party, and Saturday, September 5th, the 00s Party. The remaining evenings—June 12th, July 17th, August 14th, and September 4th—feature classic DJ sets with House, Electro, Charts, and Disco classics.

An Evening's Itinerary

The meeting point is the pier at Freizeitbad Heveney, Am Kemnader See, Witten. Departure every evening punctually at 5:30 PM. Onboard, you'll find a bar with drinks, a small food menu, and the onboard crew from Stadtwerke. Dancing takes place on the upper deck, while the main deck serves as the lounge and bar area. The ship makes several rounds on Kemnader Lake, passing Heveney, Stiepeler Dorfkirche, and the nature reserve, before returning to its original pier.

Tickets and Advance Sales

Tickets are available exclusively online through the Stadtwerke Witten webshop. A maximum of two tickets are allowed per person—a deliberate mechanism to prevent resale and ensure that as many Witten residents as possible get a chance. Advance sales for a specific cruise open about 14 days beforehand at 10 AM—tickets are regularly sold out within hours, as the series is known beyond city limits and is considered a hidden gem for balmy summer evenings.

Getting There and Parking

By car via the A 43 (exit Witten-Annen or Bochum-Querenburg) to Freizeitbad Heveney; parking is available directly at Heveney. By bike via the Ruhrtalradweg cycle path, which runs directly past the pier. By public transport: Bus lines from Bochum and Witten to Kemnader Lake; approximately 30 minutes travel time from Bochum Central Station.