Dortmund–Ems Canal

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Lore & Background

The canal was opened in 1899 to reduce demand on the railway network, which could not cope with the transport of products from the Ruhr area. Also, the canal was supposed to make coal from the Ruhr area more competitive compared to imported English coal. Furthermore, the steel industry in the eastern Ruhr area needed to import ore from abroad. The canal was so important that a lot of barges and motor vessels were built to its dimensions. These are the Dortmund–Ems Canal barge and the Gustav Koenigs type. Both sailed on many other routes and make up the CEMT class III vessels. In 1962, the canal was upgraded for use by 1350t vessels, i.e. CEMT class IV. The canal was attacked numerous times during World War II due to its strategic importance. During June through August 12th 1940 a series of raids culminating in a raid by 49 and 83 Squadrons damaged the aqueducts that crossed the River Elbe - putting the canal out of commission for short periods. Operation Garlic, an attack in September 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF (the "Dambusters") was unsuccessful and costly. The squadron attacked it again in September 1944 using Tallboy "earthquake" bombs breaching it and causing considerable damage. In August 1944, 571 squadron attacked it with de Havilland Mosquitos, dropping mines into the canal. It was repaired after the conflict. 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). It operated until 1962, and was then replaced by a new elevator and a lock. Today it houses the Westfälisches Industriemuseum. After the Second World War, the canal had to be widened. Those parts that were above ground level could not easily be widened, and therefore a new route was constructed between Olfen and Münster. It lies parallel to the old route, and new river crossings were also built. The old route was closed for shipping.

Reader's Guide

The Dortmund–Ems Canal runs 269 kilometres from Dortmund to Emden. The southern artificial section is 215 km to Herbrum lock near Meppen, then the route follows the river Ems for 45 km to Oldersum lock, and finally a second artificial segment of 9 km. That last stretch was built because inland ships of the era were not built for the open sea they would have faced at the Dollart and the entry to Emden. The canal connects to the Ems-Jade Canal from Emden to Wilhelmshaven. Towns along the canal include Dortmund, Waltrop, Datteln, Olfen, Lüdinghausen, Senden, Hiltrup, Münster, Dörenthe, Hörstel, Bevergern, Rheine, Hesselte, Lingen, Geeste, Meppen, Haren, Papenburg, Düthe, Heede, Lehe, Aschendorf, Oldersum, and Emden. The best known structure is the Henrichenburg boat lift in Waltrop, which lifted ships 14 metres. It operated until 1962 and now houses the Westfälisches Industriemuseum. The Dortmund-Ems-Kanal-Route is a 350 km long official long-distance cycling route next to the canal.

Did You Know?

• The northern artificial segment of 9 km was built because inland ships at the time were not built for the open sea they would have faced at the Dollart and the entry to Emden.
• During June through August 12th 1940, raids by 49 and 83 Squadrons damaged the aqueducts crossing the River Elbe, putting the canal out of commission for short periods.
• Operation Garlic in September 1943 by 617 Squadron RAF (the 'Dambusters') was unsuccessful and costly.
• In September 1944, 617 Squadron attacked again using Tallboy 'earthquake' bombs, breaching the canal and causing considerable damage.
• The Henrichenburg boat lift in Waltrop enabled a ship to bridge a difference in height of 14 metres (46 ft) and operated until 1962.