The canal was opened in 1899 (1899) to reduce demand on the railway network, which could not cope with the transport of products from the Ruhr area.

The canal was attacked numerous times during World War II due to its strategic importance.

The squadron attacked it again in September 1944 using Tallboy "earthquake" bombs breaching it and causing considerable damage.

The best known building of the Dortmund-Ems canal is the Henrichenburg boat lift in Waltrop, which enabled a ship to bridge a difference in height of 14 metres (46 ft).

[3] Dortmund - Waltrop - Datteln - Olfen - Lüdinghausen - Senden - Hiltrup - Münster - Dörenthe - Hörstel - Bevergern - Rheine - Hesselte - Lingen - Geeste - Meppen - Haren - Papenburg - Düthe - Heede - Lehe - Aschendorf - Oldersum - Emden -