Six marinas for explorers with or without a boat licence

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Six marinas for explorers with or without a boat licence

By the water, on the water and in the water. Experience the maritime side of Düsseldorf and its surroundings from the following mooring points. 

What do you associate with freedom? A job that does away with strict nine-to-five? A fulfilling single life in which you don’t have to pay any heed to a – supposedly – better half? Or perhaps, like many people, the sheer vastness of the ocean? Admittedly, the ocean is several hundred miles from Düsseldorf. But there is nothing like the feeling of setting sail, perhaps without any actual destination in mind, and leaving your worries on shore. And where does this feeling take root? Well, a marina is a good start. We showcase six marinas in and around Düsseldorf that are perfect for a trip out on the water or a leisurely tour on land. 

The media harbor 

If the phrase ‘6.45 east – 51.13 north’ leaves you scratching your head, you’re not alone! In fact, these are coordinates. They indicate a location where any number of pleasure boats and ships can be found – the Media Harbour. It can be found in one of Düsseldorf’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. Here, in the shadow of the TV tower and the acclaimed Frank Gehry buildings, and close to the architectural highlights of Zollhof, you’ll find a mooring for yachts of up to 40 metres in length (and most likely with a price tag to rival even the fanciest apartment). The good news is that you won’t need to raid your savings. The privately-owned Marina Düsseldorf, located in Am Handelshafen is very inviting and open to all, and not just on the regular open days. If you fancy taking to the water, you can hire the boat ‘Silver’, for which you don’t need a licence. You can ask harbour master Yannick Merse for advice if you want to dock your own boat here or get it repaired in the workshop. And you can take part in one of the themed tours on gastronomy or crime that are held here. When the weather is warm, you might even encounter some yoga enthusiasts exercising against the backdrop of the historical sailing vessels. There are around 60 restaurants nearby where you can round off a fantastic day, one which you won’t want to end. And it doesn’t have to. If you’ve fallen in love with the place, get yourself a houseboat and move here. You already know the coordinates: 6.45 east – 51.13 north. 

In Golzheim 

If you enjoy the feeling of wanderlust that watching ships pass by gives you, then Golzheim is the place to be. From here you can see barges, container ships and pleasure steamers set off to destinations unknown. Few other places exude the pull of distant lands like this marina about ten minutes’ drive north of Königsallee and the old town. With a glass of beer or wine to hand, you can sit on the terrace of the Haus am Rhein restaurant overlooking the harbour basin, where boats rock quietly on the waves of Germany’s longest river as they await their next journey. A rump steak or a fillet of beef or white fish is sure to keep you going at the helm, even in rough seas. The yacht club, which is just a short stroll from the restaurant, is hard to miss thanks to a metre-long and metre-high sculpture of an anchor. There is space for sailing boats and motor yachts up to 13 metres long at the jetties operated by Wasser-Sport-Verein Düsseldorf; moorings for guests cost two euros per metre of boat. Founded in 1893, the rowing club accepts new joiners as guests, or ‘springer’, for one year. Anyone who wants to become a club member after that can look forward to a permanent berth with one of the best views of the Rhine and the old town on the horizon. You can also enjoy the views from the wall that separates the Rhine from the marina, where people love to come in summer to dream of distant shores.  

Lake Unterbach 

Lake Unterbach is without doubt a prime destination when it comes to water-based fun. The approach through the wooded area as you leave the motorway will give anyone holiday vibes. Several roads lead to the lake and its bathing spots, with the second exit from the A46 taking you directly to the marina. At Lake Unterbach Sailing Club (Düsseldorfer Segelclub Unterbacher See, DSCU), you can try your hand at sailor’s knots while mooring your own boats just a few metres away. The area really is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, as there are numerous clubs close at hand, such as a dragon boat club and sailing society. The question is which one to join and where to head to with the wind in your sails? To Optimistenbucht on the southern shore of the lake? Or to Gänsewiese in the north? Whichever you choose, you can sip a drink at Se(h)restaurant after a day on the water or on a walk along the six-kilometre circular trail. And at sunset, you can light a campfire or barbecue at one of the designated spots near the shore. Flame-grilled sausages with a view of the water and stimulating conversation with like-minded people? You can’t beat it. 

Lörick 

If you think you need to travel all the way to the sea to find a lighthouse, think again: a trip to Lörick will do. Admittedly, the lighthouse standing in the club’s marina isn’t a real one, but it certainly provides a degree of maritime charm. What’s more, it’s a great place to unwind. Boats of all shapes and sizes are dotted between the cycle path and the Rhine river, as are caravans, whose occupants must feel like they’ve won the lottery every day. After all, on a hot summer’s day they can walk to the nearby outdoor pool or settle down on one of the many stretches of beach. These are bustling with activity from June to September, with one sandcastle after the next rising from the sand. And then there’s the smell of freshly fried chips, of course! At the end of the day, you can dance the night away at Rheinclub 297, cheeks still glowing from the sun and the new memories made. Just don’t climb into your boat if you’re feeling tipsy the next day, even if the German Lifeguard Association is nearby waiting for the next emergency! 

In Neuss 

Right opposite the district of Volmerswerth on the other side of the Rhine lies Grimlinghausen marina. Make sure you have your phone to hand on the terrace of the Restaurant am Rhein as the panoramic views – maybe captured in time-lapse!? – really are in a league of their own. Conveniently, the restaurant is located in the grounds of Neuss Rowing Club, where you can arrange to try your hand at this team sport if you so wish. Taster courses start at the beginning of May, so that could be worth an entry in your calendar. Before you know it, you could be sitting in a sailing dinghy gliding across Lake Sandhof. In the marina you will also find many other clubs and associations such as the Novesia yacht club and clubhouse, the Zugvögel folding boat and kayak club, and even a maritime choir. But if you just feel like soaking up the atmosphere, no problem. It might be a bit of a cliché to say somewhere is idyllic, but this place really is. Birds are singing, water is gently lapping the shore and the leaves are rustling. The grounds of the marina are sheltered in a bay surrounded by woods and meadows, as if made for a break from everyday life. The mouth of the Nordkanal is a pretty spot offering far-reaching views. 

Leverkusen-Hitdorf 

Where on earth can you enjoy a coffee and a slice of cake in an old harbour crane? In Leverkusen, of course! Or to be more precise, in the district of Hitdorf. You can explore it quite comfortably by bicycle from Düsseldorf-Bilk, ideally when the sun is shining. Because when it’s raining, this reminder of the port’s industrial past, Kran Café at no. 91 Rheinstrasse, remains closed. But if you don’t mind a few drops of rain and still want to tackle the 28 kilometres to Leverkusen (home of pharma giant Bayer), you can forget about cakes and coffee and explore the marina’s many facets instead. The local yacht club claims to be the largest on the Rhine river, which is easy to believe given its many active and supporting members and its 60 spaces for boats up to 14 metres long. Day berths are available if you want to drop by in your yacht, for example to visit the harbour festival and boat christenings. Maybe it’s just us, but we have been scouring the real estate ads for Leverkusen ever since we visited Hitdorf harbour. After all, living there with those views of the Rhine river must really be something. But don’t feel bad, Düsseldorf, it would only be for the weekend. Because we really appreciate knowing that somewhere like this is so close to us, just a bike ride away.  

  Title image: Düsseldorf Tourism

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