In 1122, Bishop Godebald of Utrecht dammed the Kromme Rijn where it branches from the Nederrijn at Wijk bij Duurstede.

The Kromme Rijn was dammed to prevent inundation of the Bishop's land holdings near Wijk bij Duurstede.

[1] The first stretch was dug between the moat surrounding Utrecht and Liesbosch (currently part of the town of Nieuwegein.

In the middle of the 12th century, the Vaartse Rijn was extended in the direction of the Hollandse IJssel, (the so-called Doorslag canal).

At the time, the Hollandse IJssel was in open connection with the Lek river, a major distributary of the Rhine.