It was built from 1922 to 1935 by widening an already existing drainage channel and is used today, especially by the peat industry and for transporting coal from the Ruhrgebiet to Bremen.

In April 1945, the 100-metre (330 ft) wide canal was a significant obstacle to Allied forces advancing from the Ems estuary into Germany.

Forces of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division assaulted over the canal on 19 April and secured a bridgehead at Edewechterdamm, after Polish formations of the 1st Armoured Division had taken over the previous Canadian position at Dörpen, 50 km.

The Polish forces established a bridgehead towards Papenburg after two days of fierce fighting.

Ems near Dörpen – southern Papenburg – northern Friesoythe – Hunte in Oldenburg In many places the canal runs parallel to the B 401. c-Port, an association and trading estate on the canal.