View of the Dortmund-Ems Canal Near Münster

The route between Gremmendorf and the harbor is finally finished.

The Dortmund-Ems Canal (DEK) is a major inland waterway in Germany that connects the Ruhr area with the North Sea. It stretches over a length of 225 kilometers from Dortmund to Papenburg. The canal was built between 1892 and 1899 and opened on August 11, 1899 by Kaiser Wilhelm II.The canal is largely man-made and crosses several rivers, including the Lippe, Stever and Ems. From Greven, the canal follows the course of the Ems to the Herbrum lock, from where the canal is influenced by the sea's tides. The end point of the canal is near Papenburg, where it merges into the Lower Ems and finally flows into the North Sea.In addition to its importance for freight transport, with an annual volume of around 1.9 million tons, the Dortmund-Ems Canal also plays an important role in tourism. The Dortmund-Ems Canal Cycle Route, a long-distance cycle route of around 350 kilometres, follows the course of the canal and offers a route with almost no gradients for cycle tourists.Historically, the construction of the canal was a major technical and logistical challenge that required a large workforce, including numerous migrant workers from the Netherlands. The completion of the canal marked an important step in the industrial development of the Ruhr area and contributed significantly to the region's economic connection to the North Sea ports.Today, the Dortmund-Ems Canal is an indispensable part of the West German waterway network and offers not only an efficient transport route for freight traffic, but also attractive opportunities for leisure activities and tourism along its banks.

You can do something there with the whole family.