Welcome in
Brandenburg an der Havel
PRESIDENT EUROPEAN ROWING
ASUNCIÓN LORIENTE
Dear teams, dear rowing friends,
It is my honor and pleasure to welcome you to the 2026 European Rowing Under 19 Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel, in a few days you will discover a beautiful city and region and an amazing rowing course renovated a few years ago.
I will be delighted to meet you at Lake Beetzsee, ready to take on the water to perform at your best. The same as the Organizing Committee has been doing for a long period. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the them, their dedication, commitment, and countless hours of work have made this event possible. Thanks to their effort, and the support of the State of Brandenburg, The City of Brandenburg an der Havel and the Brandenburg State Rowing Association and the Havel Regatta Club, we can all enjoy a weekend that will bring together athletes, teams, and supporters in an environment of excellence.
To all rowers: may the water challenge you, inspire you, and remind you of what you are capable of achieving. Trust your training, trust your crew, and give your best in every moment. I wish you focus, strength, and an unforgettable experience on the water. Welcome, and let the event begin.
Minister-President of the State of Brandenburg
DR. DIETMAR WOIDKE
Dear friends of the rowing sport,
On 23 and 24 May, all eyes of the European rowing world will be on our state of Brandenburg. More specifically: on the town of Brandenburg an der Havel and Lake Beetzsee. Over these two days, Europe’s best junior rowers will be cutting through the water at top speed on our historic racecourse.
This is not the first time that Europe’s top young rowers will be visiting Brandenburg – once again a great honour for the organisers and recognition of their outstanding work.
I am convinced that the 800 athletes from around 30 nations will once again feel very much at home with us. The sport of rowing has a long tradition here. Many athletes who have enjoyed success at European and World Championships, as well as at the Olympic Games, hail from this region. The host organisation is exceptionally well prepared, and the spectators are very passionate about sport.
The beautiful and modern natural rowing course on Lake Beetzsee offers excellent conditions. With this venue, Brandenburg now has a competition facility that meets the highest standards.
So, everything is prepared. I would like to thank everyone who has made this sporting highlight possible: the German Rowing Association and the State Rowing Association, the Havel Regatta Club, the town of Brandenburg an der Havel, and all the volunteers. I wish all the rowers every success in their races. And as regards the spectators, I hope you enjoy an entertaining and exciting few hours at Beetzsee and in the sporting region of Brandenburg.
Lord Mayor of the City of Brandenburg an der Havel
DANIEL KEIP
Dear athletes,
Dear friends of rowing,
A warm welcome to Brandenburg an der Havel for the 2026 European Rowing Under 19 Championships. On May 23 and 24, 2026, around 800 young athletes from many European countries will gather at the Beetzsee regatta course. For two days, the focus will be on exciting races and international competition.
The championship also marks the highlight of this year’s rowing season in Brandenburg an der Havel. The German team will be represented by a large delegation. For some Brandenburg athletes, this also presents an opportunity to compete as part of the U19 national team and race in front of their home crowd. The final races on Sunday promise some special sporting moments. I am delighted to have the opportunity to personally present some of the awards.
The Beetzsee regatta course is one of the venues in international rowing richest in tradition. National and international championships have been held here for decades. Generations of athletes have competed here for titles, records, and personal bests.
Rowing demands the utmost precision, endurance, and teamwork. Every movement must be perfect; the boat only functions when everyone is in sync. British Olympic champion and rowing author Sir Steven Geoffrey Redgrave aptly summed up the essence of this sport: “Rowing is the ultimate team sport—success comes only when everyone does the same thing at the exact same time.”
For many of the young participants, this European Championship serves as an important benchmark on their path to the top of international sport. Some of them may go on to compete in World Championships or the Olympic Games in a few years’ time. Brandenburg an der Havel has close ties to rowing. The Ruder-Club-Havel Brandenburg, founded in 1906 and of which I am a member, has produced numerous talented athletes. A recent example is Sarah Wibberenz. She won gold in the quadruple sculls at the 2019 European Junior Championships, took silver at the Junior World Championships that same year, and again at the 2021 U23 World Championships. In 2025, she followed that up with silver at the European Championships and bronze at the World Championships in the quadruple sculls.
The regatta course itself can also look back on significant development. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. Over the past few years, more than 5 million euros have been invested in its modernization. New starting facilities, state-of-the-art technology in the finish tower, a large video wall, accessible boat ramps, and a partially covered grandstand create ideal conditions for national and international competitions. And further investments in the competition venue are already planned so that is sustainable for the long-term use.
A big thank you goes to the organizers, the Brandenburg State Rowing Association, the Havel Regatta Club, the international and national associations, and the many volunteers. Their dedication makes this championship possible. I extend my best wishes to the athletes for fair and successful races.
I wish everyone exciting competitions.
Organizing Committee – Co-President
ULRIKE HARTMANN | STEFFEN CHRISTGAU
On behalf of the organising committee of the 2026 European Rowing Under 19 Championships in Brandenburg an der Havel, we warmly welcome Europe‘s young rowers. Following the highly successful staging of the 2024 World Rowing Masters Regatta with 3,500 ambitious masters rowers from all over the world, we are now delighted to welcome Europe‘s young talents in competitive rowing. The traditional regatta course with its high international standard infrastructure, the regatta staff and the many volunteers are ready to offer you a perfect championship weekend.
The Brandenburg State Rowing Association and the Havel Regatta Club of 1920, which work united in the organizing committee, would like to take this opportunity to thank the German Rowing Association for their cooperation and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the State of Brandenburg and the City of Brandenburg an der Havel for their outstanding support. Without that we would not have been able to successfully bid for the 2026 European Rowing Under 19 Championships. With the combination of public support and our experience in organizing regattas, we want to provide all participants with the best possible competitions in May 2026.
With this in mind, we wish all athletes successful preparations for the 2026 European Rowing Under 19 Championships.
About us
CONTACT INFORMATION
Brandenburg Federal Rowing Association
Landesruderverband Brandenburg e.V.
Haus des Sports
Olympischer Weg 7
14471 Potsdam
Beetzsee Regattacourse Venue
An der Regattastrecke 1
14772 Brandenburg an der Havel
City of Brandenburg
The City of Brandenburg is the oldest town in Germany’s federal state of Brandenburg and gave its name to the state in 1990. The independent regional center is located 70 km west of Berlin, Germany’s capital and largest city. Via the motorway and highway connections and the regional trains running every 20 minutes, both Berlin, as well as the state capitals Potsdam and Magdeburg can be quickly and conveniently reached. Thanks to the extensive redevelopment of the three historic city centers, many newly developed residential areas, important infrastructural measures, a broad cultural offer and successful establishment of federal and regional authorities as well internationally acting companies, Brandenburg has become an attractive place worth to live, reside, and work. The city’s population has increased in recent years up to 72500 and continues to grow.
The Beetzsee Regatta Course
The regatta course is located on the natural lake Beetzsee. It is one of the most modern rowing venues in Germany and has a long-standing history, which began more than five decades ago. A big gathering of the German rowing community started the series of national and international championships in different water sports. After the German reunification, both the city and the federal state of Brandenburg continuously invested millions of Euros into the modernization of the natural regatta course. Today, the tradition-rich venue offers modern sports technology, ample of space for competitors and organizers, adequate infrastructure and a team of hospitable and professional employees. Since the turn of the millennium, the course has hosted highlevel national and international events every year. Highlights in rowing have been the World Rowing Junior Championships in 2005, the Under 23 Championships in 2008 and the European Championships in 2016. Lately, the 2024 World Rowing Masters Regatta was the culmination of international rowing events that were hosted with more than 3500 participants at the historic venue. With the 2026 European Junior Championships the city and the OC are pleased to welcome the rowing community again in Brandenburg at the Beetzsee regatta course.
Traveling to Brandenburg
By plane
By plane
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) – 89 km / 1 hour by car, about 1.5 hours by train to Brandenburg main station (via Potsdam or Berlin).
For airport transportation arrangements please contact the OC when accommodations are booked.
By car
Coming from East or West, use the exit “Brandenburg” of the A2 Motorway or via the B1 federal road from Berlin/Potsdam or Genthin/Magdeburg. Coming from North or South, use A10 or A9 motorway before changing to A2 motorway. In Brandenburg an der Havel it is recommended to approach the course via Ringstraße (B1 federal road, “all directions”). The route to the course is signposted with the rowing pictogram. Parking is available around the regatta course. Please follow the parking guidance system. Teams will have dedicated parking areas close to the venue.
By train
Coming both from Berlin (east) or Magdeburg (west), it takes about an hour to get to Brandenburg using regional express trains. Trains run two times per hour over the day, three times during rush hours. Trains also stop in Werder and Potsdam main Station (travel time: 20 minutes). From Brandenburg train station public transport buses can be used to get to the venue or nearby
Visa Information
Third-country nationals generally require a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany.
This does not apply to citizens of EU member states and other states for which the European Community has abolished the visa requirement for short stays of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days by means of the Visa Regulation.
Please check Auswärtiges Amt to see if you need a visa entering Germany
Meteorology and Conditions
| Day | Sunrise | Sunset | Length of Day |
| Thu, May 21 | 05:05 | 21:08 | 16:03 |
| Fri, May 22 | 05:03 | 21:09 | 16:06 |
| Sat, May 23 | 05:02 | 21:10 | 16:08 |
| Sun, May 24 | 05:01 | 21:12 | 16:11 |
TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY
Elevation above Sea Level: 32 m
TEMPERATURES (AVERAGE)
Max: 18.6 °C (16:00 hrs)
Min: 9.7 °C (6:00 hrs)
Wind Speed and Direction
COMPETITIVE ASPECTS
General Information
ELIGIBILITY
All European Rowing Member Federations (including Israel) shall be eligible to compete in the European Rowing Under 19 Championships. An athlete must present a valid passport or National ID from the country for which they wish to compete. Kindly note, rules applicable for Under 19 rowers if they wish to compete for their country of residence are specified in the rule book: European Rowing Rules of Racing.
TRAINING
The venue will be officially open for training 2 days before the first day of racing. The training times during racing days are subject to the actual racing schedule and will be published closer to the event.
Events Offered
Please check the following page to find the latest list of events offered at the 2026 ERU19Ch.
Medical Services and Hospital
Both training and competition will be monitored by a rescue service. Ambulances will be on-site. The nearest hospital is located 3,4 km away from the venue:
Universitätsklinikum (University Hospital)
Hochstraße 29
14470 Brandenburg an der Havel
Emergency is open 24/7
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
| Day | Event |
| Thu, May 21, 2025 | Official venue opening |
| Fri, May 22, 2025 | Team Managers Meeting and Draw |
| Fri, May 22, 2025 | Opening Ceremony |
| Sat, May 23, 2025 | Competition Day 1 |
| Sun, May 24, 2025 | Competition Day 2 |
ACCOMMODATION
If your team wants to book accommodation via the OC, please fill out the booking inquiry form and send it via e-mail.
Category 1
| Accommodation | Distance | Price per Person and Night | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| (A) Molkenmarkt | 4 km / 7 min | Single: 173 € / Double: 127 € 🆕 | 35 |
| 2 km / 4 min | Single: 199 € / Double: 142 € | ||
| (C) Bollmannsruh | 19 km / 25 min | Single: 175 € / Double: 140 € | 120 |
| (D) Kongresshotel Potsdam | 40 km / 57 min | Single: 208 € / Double: 173 € | 190 |
| (E) Seminaris Potsdam | 39 km / 57 min | Single: 209 € / Double: 153 € | 50 |
Total number of originally available beds in Category 1: 455
Category 2
| Accommodation | Distance | Price per Person and Night | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 km / 7 min | Single: 178 € / Double/Triple: 143 € | ||
| 6 km / 13 min | Single: 160 € / Double/Triple: 125 € | ||
| (H) Havel Hotel | 3 km / 7 min | Single: 158 € / Double: 128 € | 45 |
| (I) Wyndham Garden Potsdam | 40 km / 54 min | Single: 180 € / Double: 122 € | 40 |
Total number of originally available beds in Category 2: 387
Category 3
| Accommodation | Distance | Price per Person and Night | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 km / 10 km | Single: 103 € / Double: 88 € |
Total number of originally available beds in Category 3: 20
Generally, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be served at the venue. For hotels in Potsdam (D, E and I) and „Seehotel Bollmannsruh“ (C) breakfast will be served in the accommodation.
For booking requests and further details, please contact the OC (see below).
Refund Policy
- Up to and including 20 Feb 2026: 100% refund
- After 20 Feb 2026: 80% refund
- After 20 Mar 2026: 20% refund
Please note the booking deadline (extended ⚠️): 21 March 2026 🆕 by which the number of beds/rooms have to be provided. Requests will be served on first come first serve basis.
LOGISTICAL ASPECTS
Accommodation
All team members (athletes, coaches, doctors, physios, etc.) have to be accredited in order to enter the boat, catering, warmup, and grandstand area. The accreditation building is located outside the main venue, close to the soccer court.
Food Services
Generally, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be served at the venue. For hotels in Potsdam (D, E and I) and „Seehotel Bollmannsruh“ (C) breakfast will be served in the accommodation.
Transport and Parking Services
Transport between accommodation and venue is generally provided two times in the morning, two times at noon and two times in the afternoon/evening. Teams are open to book an exclusive transport service at additional costs or use their own transportation vehicles. Parking for teams is possible in closest proximity to the venue.
Airport Transportation
For airport transportation arrangements please contact the OC when accommodations are booked.
Contact Information
Sponsors and Partners
GLOBAL PARTNERS
Local Partners
