Treidelfest — With Horse and Cart at the Niederfinow Ship Lift

Niederfinow Ship Lift — Hydraulic Engineering Marvel

The Niederfinow Ship Lift is one of Europe's most important hydraulic engineering structures and the oldest ship lift in Germany still in operation. It was commissioned in 1934 and overcomes a height difference of 36 meters between the Oder-Havel Canal and the Finow Canal. In 2022, a new, modern ship lift was opened right next to it — today, old and new stand side by side, a unique double technical monument. Niederfinow itself is a small village in the Barnim district, characterized by the history of canal construction and the medieval tradition of towing (pulling ships) along the waterways.

Towing — The Old Technique of Pulling Ships

Before ships were motorized, they had to be pulled along the canals — by towing horses walking on towpaths along the bank. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, towing was a matter-of-course occupation; with the steam engine and later the diesel engine, it became obsolete. Today, it is a historical spectacle — and that is exactly what is presented at the Treidelfest. Horses pull small ships along the Finow Canal, accompanied by explanations.

2026 Program — Horse, Carriage, Family

The three days of the Treidelfest offer a diverse program centered around horses and shipping history: historic towing, carriage demonstrations (various carriage models, demonstrations, and ride offers), pony rides for children, raft trips (by donation — a nice way to see the ship lift from the water), demonstrations of historical wagon and horse techniques. Saturday, July 4th is Family Day with a program from 10 am to 6 pm. Food and drinks are available throughout the festival grounds.

Practical Information — Free Admission, €4 Parking

Admission to the festival grounds is free. Parking costs €4 per car. If you are coming from Berlin by car or public transport, it's best to plan a full day: the ship lift itself is an attraction (visiting is possible), and the landscape along the Finow Canal is suitable for walks or bike tours along the towpath. The Treidelfest is one of Brandenburg's most unusual folk festivals — a bridge between the age of horses and industrial monuments.