Dortmund-Ems Canal Route

Cyclists will discover a wealth of historical, technical and cultural sights. Idyllic villages and vibrant towns lie along the way, some of which follow the old towpaths directly alongside the canal, while others follow the course of the canal somewhat away from the water.
The cycle route along the Dortmund-Ems Canal offers you varied landscapes. From Dortmund you cycle via Münster and Emden to Norddeich. That's around 350 kilometers of touring.
You cycle through Münsterland and Emsland up to the North Sea. Starting at Dortmund Central Station, you first ride to the Westphalian Industrial Museum Henrichenburg Ship's Hoist and on to Lüdinghausen via Olfen. The route then takes you via Senden and Hiltrup to Münster city center. You cycle on via Ladbergen, Rheine, Lingen, Meppen, Haren (Ems) and Lathen. Further stage destinations are Rhede, Weener, Leer and Emden.
The canal, which turned one hundred years old in 1999, connects the seaport in Emden with Dortmund.

The Dortmund-Ems Canal route connects the Ruhr region with East Frisia and the North Sea. There is shipping traffic on the canal and the Ems, locks, ports and weirs to see. The route leads past industrial monuments through the park landscape of Münsterland and Emsland with its many rivers and canals to East Frisia.

The route has no significant gradients and runs away from car traffic on asphalted or paved paths. It is suitable for families with children and cyclists of all ages.

According to the ADFC:

• The level of difficulty: approx. 91 % easy, 9 % medium
• The route condition: approx. 35 % suitable for racing bikes, 65 % is recommended for touring bikes
• The traffic load: approx. 99 % none to low, 1 % moderate
• 837 m ascents