Dortmund-Ems-Kanal is Münster's (Westphalia) first city harbor, also known as Stadthafen, Hafen, or der Kanal. The inland port, which connects to the Dortmund-Ems Canal, was opened in 1899 by Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German emperor and monarch of Prussia from 15 June until his abdication on 9 November 1918, and is operated by Stadtwerke Münster. The Dortmund-Ems-Canal is 269 kilometers long and was built to relieve pressure on the railway network, which was unable to handle the transit of goods from the Ruhr area, a polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany with a population of more than 5 million people.
Because of its strategic importance, the canal was attacked multiple times during WWII. Operation Garlic, a September 1943 strike by 617 Squadron RAF (the "Dambusters"), was both ineffective and costly. In September 1944, the squadron struck it again, this time with Tallboy "earthquake" bombs, breaching it and causing significant damage. It was repaired after the conflict.
Swimming in the harbor basin is officially prohibited. On paper, the port is still an active industrial port, and cargo ships can dock at its quay walls at any time. So that this can take place undisturbed and swimmers are not endangered, the port regulations prohibit bathing. Because ships have long braking distances and cannot avoid swimmers when they see them in the water. Incidentally, the inland waterway traffic regulations also prohibit swimming on the canal in the area of up to 100 meters around a bridge, weir, port entrance, berth or pier and in the lock area because ships have a suction effect.
In general, the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) advises against swimming in the canal. Swimmers can be drawn in by a ship's suction or driven up against the quay wall and embankment by the waves. If you are not a good swimmer because there is always a pool supervisor on site who may intervene and save lives in an emergency, outdoor pools in Münster are often the superior choice. Jumping from bridges or swimming from ships is likewise illegal throughout the canal and is punishable by a fine. Furthermore, this is so risky that everyone should be aware that it is best not to do it because a couple of people died after jumping from bridges and collapsing with old rusted bicycles inside the man made river.
The canal had to be enlarged after World War II. Because the sections above ground level could not be easily extended, a new route was built between Olfen and Münster. It runs parallel to the original route and includes new river crossings. The ancient shipping route was closed. The Kanal route is a 350-kilometer-long official long-distance cycling route that runs beside the canal.