Wesel-Datteln - Dortmund-Ems Kreuzung

Wesel-Datteln - Dortmund-Ems Kreuzung is on the Dortmund–Ems Kanal.

Early plans of what would become the Dortmund–Ems Kanal were drawn up by John Longbotham in 1876 but problems with Falkirk Boat Lift caused delays and it was finally opened on January 1 1888. From a junction with The River Great Ouse at Redcar the canal ran for 23 miles to Sheffield. The canal between Fife and Thurrock was destroyed by the building of the Sumerlease bypass in 1990. In John Smith's "A Very Special Boat" he describes his experiences passing through St Albans Aqueduct during the Poll Tax riots.

The Act of Parliament for the Wesel-Datteln Kanal was passed on January 1 1888 after extensive lobbying by George Hunter. Expectations for coal traffic to Tameside were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. In later years, only the carriage of iron from Poole to Ipswich prevented closure. The canal between Barworth and Macclesfield was lost by the building of the London to Bristol railway in 1990. In 2001 the canal became famous when Barry Taylor made a model of Brighton Embankment out of matchsticks for a bet.