For 129 years, the tiny German village of Lehde has relied on a unique postal service: mail delivered by boat. This tradition continues with Andrea Bunar, a 55-year-old postal worker who navigates the intricate waterways of the Spreewald Forest delta southeast of Berlin.
A Dream Job on the Water
Bunar eagerly awaited spring to resume her barge deliveries. On Wednesday, she stood at the back of her bright yellow boat, using a single long oar to row and steer through shallow canals. "The start of the season is always special for me," she said. "After the long winter break, I enjoy being in nature and back on the water."
For 14 years, Bunar has served Lehde's residents. During winter, she uses a car, facing icy roads and longer travel times. From April to October, she returns to her nine-metre-long barge, delivering mail Monday through Saturday to mailboxes placed on riverbanks.
From Church to Boat
Before 1897, villagers collected mail weekly after Sunday church services. As people moved to cities, demand for communication grew, prompting the German postal service to deliver more frequently. Lehde's canal network made boats the only practical option, creating a tradition that persists today.
The Spreewald, a UNESCO biosphere, features 300 kilometres of waterways through forests and wetlands. Lehde is the only place in Germany where mail arrives by boat.
More Packages, Fewer Letters
Each week, Bunar delivers about 600 letters and 80 packages along an 8-kilometre route, taking roughly two hours. Recently, packages have outnumbered letters. "I've delivered an e-scooter, a lawnmower, and a fridge," she said. "Sometimes my barge feels like a little container ship." On her first spring day, she transported a large saw alongside bills and registered mail.
Bunar also sells stamps and collects outgoing mail. She describes her work as a dream job: "Being on the water is just so relaxing—it slows down life."
