The Kiel Canal was inaugurated at Holtenau in 1895; a decade later, just before World War I, the locks were enlarged to the size they are today. Ship passengers leaving the city of Kiel and sailing towards the Baltic can admire the fine brick Holtenau lighthouse (with a memorial inside to both Kaisers Wilhelm), as well as another one at the narrowest point of the Kiel Fjord before reaching the white Bülk lighthouse. These days, the Lighthouse Foundation is leading an effort to restore not only the famous lighthouses of the area to their condition at their prime (in the early 20th century) but also the seaside bathing stations.
