To spot the Werfthafen Ruhrort, look for the broad, curved harbor basin tucked between the other docks-on the map, it’s labeled “Werfthafen” just north of the Ruhr river’s mouth, blending into the historic waterways.
Now, let’s step into a time machine and imagine this spot in the early 1800s. Picture hustle and bustle, steam rising, and hammers echoing across the water as shipbuilders worked on massive wooden hulls. Between 1820 and 1825, guided by Freiherr Ludwig von Vincke, the Werfthafen was carved out right here, its original oval shape complete with a central island. On that island, shipyards grew-one of them even built the “Stadt Mainz,” the very first steamboat for the Rhine in all of Prussia, which launched in 1830. Imagine the cheers as it slid down the slipway, out into the water!
By 1842, the place was bustling so much that they had to expand. New canals and connections appeared, and coal bunkers lined the banks to fuel the hungry ships. But fast-forward to just before World War I: the world was changing, steamships got too large, and parts of this harbor were sadly filled in for new development. On the western side, Vinckeplatz sprung up, while much of the old Werfthafen survives only as this curving remnant.
If you look closely, you might spot the old 1862 packhouse, still standing as a protected monument-a silent witness to wild ship launches, steely ambition, and the buzz of river life. So, if you feel a shiver, maybe it’s a breeze-or maybe it’s the ghosts of old shipbuilders, reminding you that every harbor has a hidden story.
