The Nieuwebrugsluis is one of the three locks in the Hoogeveensche Vaart. The two other locks are the Rogatsluis and the Ossesluis. The Hoogeveensche Vaart is a canal from the town of Hoogeveen to the Meppelerdiep near Meppel, constructed in the early 17th century. In 1625, the section from Echten to Meppel was completed, which was also known as the Nieuwe Grift. This waterway partly made use of the Wetering near Meppel and part of the Oude Diep, called the Echtenerstroom. More than two centuries later, the canal was taken over by N.V. Drentse Kanaal Maatschappij (DKM), founded in 1850. This was liquidated in 1987, after which the canal passed to the province of Drenthe. In the period 1964-1988 the transformation took place into a modern shipping canal: it was made suitable for ships of at least 300 tons, while the waterway was routed outside the built-up areas of Meppel and Hoogeveen. The canal has a function for both commercial shipping and recreational boating. From Thursday, June 18, 2009, the bridges and locks on the Hoogeveense Vaart and Industriehaven Hoogeveen will be operated remotely from the Nieuwebrugsluis control post in Hoogeveen.