Lighthouses of Germany: Hamburg

The Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland in German) occupies a central location in northern Europe with two coastlines, one facing northwest on the North Sea and the other facing northeast on the Baltic Sea. The country's history is long and complex. The large number of historically independent German regions came together in 1871 to form the German Empire. The Empire became a republic after World War I (1914-18). After World War II (1939-45) Germany was divided into two countries, the German Federal Republic in the west, usually called West Germany, and the Communist-led German Democratic Republic in the east, usually called East Germany. After the Communist government collapsed the Federal Republic reunified the nation in October 1990.

The Federal Republic is a federation of sixteen states (Länder) and the states are divided into districts (Kreise). The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg) is one of the 16 states. Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany (after Berlin) with a population nearing 2 million within the city's boundaries and more tha 5 million in the metropolitan area.

Hamburg is located on the upper estuary of the Elbe River. The estuary has been improved for the navigation of large vessels and it is marked by more than 70 lighthouses in all: the largest number of lighthouses on any inland waterway in the world. This page lists lighthouses inside the city of Hamburg. Downstream lighthouses on the north bank of the Elbe are are described on the West Holstein page and lights on the south side of the Elbe are described on the Cuxhaven and Stade page.

In German a lighthouse is a Leuchtturm ("light tower"), plural Leuchttürme. The front light of a range is the Unterfeuer and the rear light is the Oberfeuer. There are many modern range lighthouses and most of these towers are crowned by a topmark: a large, distinctive structure that serves to mark the range clearly in the daytime. Some topmarks are conical, others are funnel-shaped, and some consist of one or more gallery-like rings around the tower.

In German Insel is an island, Riff is a reef, Kap is a cape, Bucht is a bay, Fluss is a river, Mündung is a river mouth or estuary, and Hafen is a harbor. The word Straße ("street") is also used for a waterway or strait.

Lighthouses in Germany are operated by the regional harbor authority, called the WSA (Wasserstraßen- und Schiffahrtsamt). All the lights on this page are in the jurisdiction of WSA Elbe-Nordsee. The WSA's are linked to and regulated by a federal agency, the Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes (WSV).

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. DE numbers are the German light list (Leuchtfeuerverzeichnis) numbers as noted on Erich Hartmann's website. Admiralty numbers are from volume B of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. These lights are not included on the U.S. NGA List.

General Sources
Leuchttürme und Leuchtfeuer an der Nordsee
Photos and information posted by Erich Hartmann, a contributor to the Online List of Lights.
Online List of Lights - Germany - North Coast
Photos by various photographers posted by Alexander Trabas. Some of the Elbe photos are by Hartmann, Rainer Arndt, Wolfgang Warncke, or Capt. Peter Mosselberger ("Capt. Peter").
Leuchtturm-Atlas
A large site with excellent photos and information on nearly all German lighthouses, maintained by Frank and Birgit Toussaint.
Leuchttürme.net - Deutschland
Outstanding photos by Malte Werning.
Lighthouses in Germany
Photos by various photographers available from Wikimedia.
World of Lighthouses - Germany
Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
Leuchtturmseiten von Anke und Jens - Germany - River Elbe
This site has photos and information on many of the lights.
Deutsche Leuchttürme/Feuerschiffe
Photos posted by Klause Huelse. Huelse also has a large collection of historic postcard views.
Schifffahrtszeichen
Lighthouse information from WSA Elbe-Nordsee.
Interessengemeinschaft Seezeichen e.V.
Germany's national lighthouse preservation organization.
GPSNavigationCharts
Navigation chart information for the Elbe.


Bunthäuser Spitze Light, Hamburg, July 2023
Google Maps photo by Kai Weible


2020 Blankenese Oberfeuer, Hamburg, October 2021
Google Maps photo by Niels Freckmann


Hamburg City Lighthouses

In Hamburg the Elbe River divides into two streams, the Norderelbe (North Elbe) and Süderelbe (South Elbe). The city's downtown area is along the north side of the Norderelbe; the commercial harbors are along the south side of the Norderelbe and along the lower Süderelbe.

Southern Hamburg Lighthouses
* Estemündung (Este, Cranz) (1)
1967. Inactive since 1995. 6 m (20 ft) round white concrete tower with semicircular lantern and gallery, mounted on a concrete pier. Werning has a page for the lighthouse, Uwe Haße has a photo, Christian Rasch has a view from the river, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lighthouse was replaced with a modern post light, but that light has also been deactivated. The lighthouse replaced the 1882 Cranz lighthouse. It was repaired after a major fire on 24 May 1995 but the light was moved to a post offshore (unlisted red light). The Este is a creek that enters the south side of the Elbe at Cranz, just below Hamburg. Located on the pier at the east side of the entrance to the Este. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. ARLHS FED-349; ex-Admiralty B1569.
* Bubendey-Ufer Oberfeuer (Waltershof)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); white light 4 s on, 4 s off, synchronized with the front light. Approx. 35 m (115 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has Capt. Peter's closeup, Wikimedia has several photos, Gernot Baur has a 2017 photo, Ralf Kronemeyer has a river view from a passing harbor cruise ship, Sönke Knöfel has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. Ufer is the German word for a riverbank. This is the rear light of an upstream (eastbound) range guiding ships into Hamburg harbor. The front light is on a 20 m (66 ft) post about 1 km west northwest. Located on the south bank of the Norderelbe on the west side of the entrance to the Parkhafen, near a petroleum tank complex. Site open, tower closed. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. ARLHS FED-287; DE 311661; Admiralty B1581.71.
Ellerholzhafen (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Hafen)
1902. Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); continuous red light. Approx. 22 m (72 ft) octagonal brick tower with lantern and gallery, extended by a octagonal "dunce cap" topped by a rotating radar antenna. A 2022 photo is at right, Trabas has a photo by Warncke, Andreas Köhler has a 2021 photo, Wikimedia has a 2013 photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view of the lighthouse with its original lantern, Richard Hovorka has a distant river view, and Google has a satellite view. This is the next to last light discussed on Hartmann's Hamburg Vorhafen page. The radar antenna was added in 1969 and the lighthouse may have been inactive for some period after that. In September 2009 the city of Hamburg listed the lighthouse as a historic site. Located near the Hamburg cruise ship terminal, at the end of the broad quay separating the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Hafen to the north from the Ellerholzhafen to the south, in the middle of Hamburg harbor. Site and tower closed. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. ARLHS FED-295; DE 313760; Admiralty B1593.96.

Ellerholzhafen Light, Hamburg, June 2022
Google Maps photo by *C. **
Altenwerder Unterfeuer
1999. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); red light 2 s on, 2 s off, synchronized with the rear light. Approx. 22 m (72 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a closeup by Warncke, Werning has a photo, Wikimedia has a photo, Olli Klein has a photo, Jan Gerrits has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The range guides vessels southward past the commerical docks of the Süderelbe. Located south of the Altenwerder Container Terminal, on the south side of the Süderelbe about 300 m (1000 ft) west of the Ellerholz range lights. Site status unknown. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. ARLHS FED-278; DE 312700; Admiralty B1594.65.
Altenwerder Oberfeuer
1999. Active; focal plane 31 m (102 ft); red light 2 s on, 2 s off, synchronized with the front light. Approx. 27 m (89 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Lotta Malin's 2024 photo is at right, Trabas has a closeup by Warncke, Werning has a photo, Alexander Kurtz has a 2022 closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located south of the Altenwerder Container Terminal, 165 m (540 ft) south of the front light. Site status unknown. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. ARLHS FED-279; DE 312701; Admiralty B1594.651.
Ellerholz Unterfeuer
2001. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); red light 2 s on, 2 s off, synchronized with the rear light. Approx. 22 m (72 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Trabas has a closeup, Werning has a good photo, Wikimedia has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The range guides vessels bound upstream on the Süderelbe through Hamburg harbor. Located on the south side of the Süderelbe near the Kattdykdamm. Site status unknown. Operator:WSA Elbe-Nordsee. ARLHS FED-293; DE 312810; Admiralty B1594.7.
Ellerholz Oberfeuer
2001. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); red light 2 s on, 2 s off, synchronized with the front light. Approx. 27 m (89 ft) round cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands. Werning has a photo, Trabas has a closeup, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the south side of the Süderelbe near the Kattdykdamm, 110 m (360 ft) south of the front light. Site status unknown. Operator:WSA Elbe-Nordsee. ARLHS FED-294; DE 312811; Admiralty B1594.71.
Moorburger Weide
2016. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); white, red or green light depending on direction, 3 s on, 3 s off. Approx. 30 m (98 ft) round cylindrical tower with gallery, painted with black and white horizontal bands. Trabas has Hartmann's photo and Google has a satellite view and a distant 2022 street view. The lighthouse replaced a pair of small range lights. Located at the entrance to the Hohe Schaar petroleum terminal on the north side of the Süderelbe. Site status unknown. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. DE 312870; Admiralty B1595.6; NGA 10579.1.

Altenwerder Oberfeuer, Hamburg, March 2024
Google Maps photo by Lotta Malin
** Bunthäuser Spitze
1914. Inactive since 1977. 7 m (23 ft) hexagonal pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery; an external stairway provides access to the gallery. Tower painted green, lantern red, gallery railing white. Kai Weible's 2023 photo is at the top of this page, Werning has a good photo, Sylvia Haberstroh has a 2021 photo, Wikimedia has several photos, Bernhard Maas has a 2021 street view, and Google has a satellite view. The Bunthäuser Spitze is a narrow point of land dividing the Norderelbe and Süderelbe, the northern and southern branches of the Elbe, on the southeast side of Hamburg. The lighthouse marked this point for boats bound downstream. The tower now houses equipment used for monitoring the flow rate of the river. The building was restored in 1989 as part of the celebration of the 800th anniversary of Hamburg harbor, and it was repainted and repaired in 2007. Located in a city park near the point, beyond the end of the Moorwerder Hauptdeich; accessible by a short walk from the end of the road. Site open, and visitors can climb the external stairs to the gallery. Owner/site manager: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. . ARLHS FED-059.

Downtown Hamburg Lighthouse and Lightships
*** Trinity House Lightship 13 Das Feuerschiff
1952. Decommissioned 1989. 42 m (138 ft) 2-masted steel lightship, painted red; light tower with lantern mounted amidships. Rogal Dorn's 2024 photo is at right, Hartmann has a page for the ship, a 2010 photo is available, Bernhard Maas has a 2021 street view, and Google has a satellite view and a closeup street view. Built by Philips & Sons, Dartmouth, England, the ship served many stations off the English coast. In 1991 the ship was sold to the German captain Wulf Hoffmann and sailed to Hamburg; since 1993 it has served as a floating restaurant, pub, and hotel in the city harbor in Hamburg. Located on the Vorsetzen, the waterfront in downtown Hamburg. Site open, ship open daily. Owner/site manager: Das Feuerschiff . ARLHS FED-144.

Das Feuerschiff (LV13), Hamburg, October 2024
Google Maps photo by Rogal Dorn
* Pagensand Süd (relocated)
1934. Inactive since 2015. 12 m (40 ft) round cylindrical steel(?) tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a hexagonal stone base. Lighthouse painted red. This lighthouse marked the southern tip of the island of Pagensand (see the West Holstein page). In November 2015 it was relocated by barge and placed at the Museumshafen Oevelgönne on the north bank of the Elbe at Neumühlen. Hans Richter has a 2018 closeup photo, Markus Schaubmaier has a 2022 closeup, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Wikipedia has Uwe Barghaan's 2007 view from the river of the lighthouse at its original location, Trabas has a photo of the small beacon that replaced it, and Google has a satellite view. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Museumshafen Oevelgönne. ARLHS FED-186; ex-DE 310940; ex-Admiralty B1506.
* Feuerschiff (Lightship) Elbe 3
1888. Decommissioned 1977. 45.1 m (148 ft) lightship, originally 3-masted but now 2-masted. Hull painted red, superstructure white. Petra Schmedtje-Junge's 2024 photo is at right, Jörg Schmalenberger has a 2019 photo, Christoph Bellin has a 2011 photo, Hartmann has a page for the ship, Wolfgang Woischnig has a 2022 photo, a 2019 photo at right the ship under way, Marcel Müller has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. Built by Johann Lange in Vegesack and launched as the Weser, the ship served on that station until World War II. It was overhauled in 1936, and its current diesel engines were installed at that time. After World War II the ship served ten years as the Bremen, ten more as the Weser, and then, beginning in 1966, as the Elbe 3. Since 1979 the ship has been based in Hamburg as a museum and excursion ship. It is believed to be the world's oldest operational lightship. Berthed at the Museumshafen Oevelgönne on the north bank of the Elbe at Neumühlen, just west of the center of Hamburg. Site open; ship open for tours on Sunday afternoons except when it is on tour elsewhere; check locally for current information. Owner/site manager: Förderkreis Elbe3. . ARLHS FED-275.

Feuerschiff Elbe 3, Hamburg, May 2024
Instagram photo by Petra Schmedtje-Junge

Western Hamburg Lighthouses
* Holtenau Süd (lantern)
1895. Cast iron lantern and gallery from the Holtenau Süd lighthouse at the north entrance to the Nord-Ostsee Kanal in Holtenau, near Kiel (see the Flensburg to Lübeck page). Andreas Köhler has a photo, a 2021 closeup is available, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. The lantern was replaced in 1998 by a larger lantern capable of carrying a radar antenna. The original lantern is on display across a narrow canal from the International Maritime Museum west of downtown Hamburg. Site open, tower closed. Owner/site manager: Internationales Maritimes Museum Hamburg.
* Blankenese Oberfeuer (2)
2020. Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); white light 2 s on, 2 s off, synchronized with the front light. 62 m (203 ft) round cylindrical tower with an expanded top, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Niels Freckmann has the 2021 photo at the top of this page, Peter Bandsalatiere has a closeup 2021 photo, Trabas has a photo, several photos of the project are available, and Google has a satellite view. The Elbe is being dredged to accommodate larger ships, and this required a change in the alignment of the range. Located about 400 m (1/4 mi) east southeast of the previous light (next entry), adjacent to the Mühlenberger Segel-Club. Site and tower closed but the lighthouse is easy to see from nearby. Site open, tower closed. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. ARLHS FED-040; DE 311401; Admiralty B1568.71.
#Blankenese Oberfeuer (1)
1984. Removed in 2020. This was a 40 m (131 ft) round cylindrical tower with a funnel-shaped topmark, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Werning has a photo and Google has a 2018 street view at the base of the tower. Google also has a satellite view of the former location of the tower. Formerly located atop a hill in Baurs Park, on the north bank of the Elbe in the Blankenese neighborhood just west of Hamburg, 1350 m (4430 ft) east of the front light. Site open, tower closed.
* #Blankenese Unterfeuer (1)
1984. Replaced in 2020. This was a 42 m (138 ft) round cylindrical tower with a funnel-shaped topmark, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The tower's base was surrounded by two circular observation platforms. Werning has a photo, Wikimedia has photos, and Google has a 2008 street view of the tower and a satellite view of its former location. The Blankenese Range Lights were replaced in a project in 2019-20. Formerly located on a concrete pier just off the north bank of the Elbe in the Blankenese neighborhood just west of Hamburg; The pier is open to the public and a small beacon has been placed on it. Site open, tower closed.

Blankenese Unterfeuer, Hamburg, April 2023
Instagram photo by Diana Mahler
* Blankenese Unterfeuer (2)
2020. Active; focal plane 33 m (108 ft); white light 2 s on, 2 s off, synchronized with the rear light. 33 m (108 ft) round cylindrical tower with an expanded top, painted with red and white horizontal bands. The tower's base is surrounded by two circular observation platforms. Diana Mahler's 2023 photo is above right, Trabas has a closeup photo, Bernd Wegmann has a 2021 photo, Marion Müller-Klausch has a July 2020 photo, and Google has a street view and a satellite view. Located on a concrete pier just off the north bank of the Elbe in the Blankenese neighborhood about 1 km (0.6 mi) west of the earlier light. Site open, tower closed. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. . ARLHS FED-039; DE 311400; Admiralty B1568.7.
* Wittenbergen Unterfeuer
1900. Active; focal plane 30 m (98 ft); white light 4 s on, 4 s off, synchronized with the rear light. 30 m (98 ft) hexagonal skeletal tower with a large circular lantern and gallery, enclosed 2-story watch room, and central cylinder. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands, lantern white with a black roof, gallery railing black. Werning has a good photo, Trabas has a closeup photo, Michael Knaust has a 2020 photo, a 2009 photo is available, Wikimedia has photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, Ingo Maack has a closeup street view, and Google has a satellite view. This is the front light of a downstream (westbound) range marking the channel for ships leaving Hamburg. The initial placement of the tower was incorrect, so it was moved 8 m (26 ft) south in 1905. The lighthouse was restored and modernized in 1979. Located on the north bank of the Elbe at Wittenbergen; Site open, tower closed. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. . ARLHS FED-038; DE 311440; Admiralty B1568.
* Tinsdal (Wittenbergen) Oberfeuer
1900. Active; focal plane 56 m (183 ft); white light 4 s on, 4 s off, synchronized with the front light. 42 m (137 ft) hexagonal skeletal tower with a large circular lantern and gallery, enclosed 2-story watch room, and central cylinder. Lighthouse painted with red and white horizontal bands, lantern white with a black roof, gallery railing black. Hans-Albert Krüger's 2023 photo is at right, Trabas has a closeup photo by Warncke, Tanja Bulschack has a winter 2021 photo, Werning has a more distant view, Monika Wessel has a street view, and Google has a satellite view and a more distant street view. Sibling of the Grünendeich Oberfeuer (see the Cuxhanven and Stade page). The light was named for the nearby Tinsdal gunpowder factory. Located off the Tinsdalerweg near Wittenbergen, west of Hamburg, 800 m (1/2 mi) west of the front light. Site open, tower closed. Operator: WSA Elbe-Nordsee. . ARLHS FED-237; DE 311441; Admiralty B1568.1.

Tinsdal (Wittenbergen) Oberfeuer, Wittenbergen, January 2023
Google Maps photo by Hans-Albert Krüger

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

Adjoining pages: Northwest: West Holstein | West: Cuxhaven and Stade

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Posted March 30, 2005. Checked and revised March 29, 2025. Lighthouses: 17; lightships: 2. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.