Three rivers in meet in Berlin. Just south of the city, the Dahme flows into the Spree and north of it in Spandau, the Spree flows into the Havel. Both south and north of the city these river confluences are surrounded by lakes. Added to which further connecting canals have been built. This makes Berlin the perfect place to be messing about in boats.
When flying into Berlin Brandenburg BER you get a glimpse of the Spree-Dahme-Lake region if you are sitting on the correct side of the plane.
A short drive away from the airport houseboats can be rented.
Ours sleeps up to 7 people, one of whom would have to be quite short. The bunk is probably designed with a child in mind. The full-length bunks are technically underwater.
When you take a few steps up to the back door, this is the view and to the right there is a shower with running hot water from the gas-powered hot water and heating system.
Heading north to Berlin on the Dahme, we joined the Spree at Köpenick. It is the place where in 1906 a shoemaker called Friedrich Voigt dressed up in a Captain’s uniform, commanded a group of guarding soldiers, occupied the town hall, confiscated its money and left on a train to Berlin. He was captured and imprisoned. The story made many headlines at the time and has been the basis of many plays, radio plays and films.
Further north, we passed under the Elsen Bridge by the Treptower skyscraper in the Treptow district of Berlin and sailed past the Molecule Man sculpture.
During the time that Berlin was divided, the Spree was the border at this point. Many buildings on the eastern bank were built after reunification in what had been the “death strip” of empty land on which any escapees could be seen and dealt with. Some of the buildings do look older and we wondered whether they were left vacant and have now been renovated.
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