The water taxi is back!

Potsdam, May 2026 – The relaunch of Potsdam’s Water Taxi (WASSERTAXI) marks more than just the introduction of a new operating concept. It also reflects the personal commitment of a managing director with a deep connection to the city’s maritime heritage.
Since joining the management team of Weisse Flotte Potsdam GmbH in early 2026, Maximilian Möwert-Schulz has been working alongside Jan Lehmann and Jörg Winkler to bring this long-established service back to the Havel River. Their goal is to establish a more economically sustainable operation, sharpen the service’s focus, and better meet the needs of passengers.
Beginning May 14, 2026, the Water Taxi 2 will operate a new northern route connecting Potsdam Central Station and Potsdam Harbour with Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island). The relaunch marks the return of a service that had been suspended since 2022. At the time, it had become clear that the previous route, with its 13 stops, was not economically viable enough to support sustainable long-term operations, despite its popularity. The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a shortage of qualified personnel further contributed to the decision to discontinue the service.
For Möwert-Schulz, bringing the Water Taxi back is part of a broader vision: preserving proven concepts, creating viable operational structures, and developing Potsdam’s maritime offerings in a sustainable and considered way.
His commitment to the project goes beyond his professional responsibilities. Alongside his entrepreneurial experience, Möwert-Schulz has a longstanding personal connection to the Havel River and Potsdam’s maritime heritage. He recently attracted considerable public attention by bringing the historic steamship Gustav back into service. As the vessel’s owner, he played a key role in restoring the historic steamer to operation and preserving an important part of Potsdam’s maritime history.
This achievement reflects his broader philosophy: maritime heritage should not simply be maintained as a reminder of the past, but actively preserved, developed, and carried into the future.

Möwert-Schulz is also taking a clear and focused approach to the WASSERTAXI. Rather than maintaining an overly extensive network, the service will now operate on a more compact route featuring some of Potsdam’s most attractive destinations. The new northern route connects seven stops of particular tourist interest, including Park Glienicke, Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island), Sacrow, Cecilienhof Palace, Glienicke Bridge, and Schiffbauergasse.
The route also offers considerable potential for cyclists. In recent years, northern Potsdam has seen the development of numerous popular cycling routes and leisure destinations, making the WASSERTAXI an attractive option for combining boat trips with cycling excursions.
“I don’t believe in simply continuing what has worked in the past. Instead, I want to build on proven concepts and develop them in a way that ensures their long-term future. The WASSERTAXI holds a special place in Potsdam. Our task now is to turn it into a service that is both economically sustainable and genuinely appealing to passengers,” says Maximilian Möwert-Schulz.
Despite high operating costs and increasing financial pressures, the management team remains committed to maintaining an attractive fleet while keeping ticket prices stable. The relaunch of the WASSERTAXI therefore also reflects a broader strategy built around reliability, quality, and the potential of regional and domestic tourism.
With the start of the 2026 season, Weisse Flotte Potsdam GmbH is building on an established tradition while demonstrating that the future of Potsdam’s maritime tourism depends as much on individual commitment as it does on a clear and sustainable business concept.