Kaiser Wilhelm: 125 years of steamship - Nostalgietour enthusiastic!

Kaiser Wilhelm: 125 years of steamship - Nostalgietour enthusiastic!

Wittenberg, Deutschland - The wheel steamer "Kaiser Wilhelm" continues his journey through the Elbe to celebrate its 125th anniversary with an anniversary trip. On June 14, 2025, the legendary steamer started on the banks of the Elbe in Wittenberg, where the solid smoke flag was already climbing and apparently not only nostalgic, but also technology lovers and passengers captivated. Over 50 fans accompanied the journey and waved the passing walkers, while children kept particularly excitedly on the glamorous ship with cameras, which is technically in a remarkably good condition and is considered the second oldest travel steamer in Germany.

The residents experienced an unexpected interruption when the fire brigade was alerted due to a supposed fire. Fortunately, no fire could be found, and the 84-year-old neighbor, who has known the steamer for 71 years, reacted in a mood and calmly to the incident. The "Kaiser Wilhelm" passed the towns of Elster, Pretzsch and Prettin and offered the passengers a relaxed atmosphere during the trip.

history and meaning of the steamer

The steamer "Kaiser Wilhelm" was built between 1899 and 1900 in the Dresden machine factory and came to water on May 20, 1900. With a speed of almost 21 km/h and supplies with sufficient hard coal, the steamer was active in the line service on the Oberweser until 1970. Then Dr. Ernst Schmidt the ship, which can be found today in the Lauenburg Elbe Schifffahrtsmuseum. This anniversary trip has been the first repetition of a trip to Dresden since 2015, and it leads through the UNESCO biosphere reserve in Elbe, which increases the historical and scenic charm.

The route of the anniversary trip includes several stations, including Dömitz, Wittenberge, Havelberg and Brandenburg/Havel, before the steamer reaches its destination at 4:30 p.m. on June 14, 2025. Here the guests have the opportunity to make a visit to the steamer on June 15, 2025 and also use the only shippuck center on a German inland ship where they can write and send postcards.

The adventure steamship

The steamship has deeply rooted in German cultural history. As early as the 19th century, inspired by Robert Fulton's first commercial success with the wheel steamer "Clermont", the development of steamships in Europe began. The beauty of this historical watercraft and its importance for the development of the transport infrastructure can hardly be overestimated.

As the long tradition shows, steamships are still very popular today. Captain Markus Reich and his team are particularly looking forward to the journey together, while at the same time the friendly connections to the crew of the personal steamer "Dresden" are cultivated. This nostalgic journey through the Elbe not only brings the past to alive, but also makes the hearts of technology enthusiasts beat faster.

The anniversary trip of the "Kaiser Wilhelm" is not just a trip, but a journey through the lively history of steamship with all its highs and lows. We are excited to see how the trip will develop in the coming days and hope for nice weather so that the guests can enjoy their experiences!