This canal was built between 1882 and 1917 to link the Meuse basin to the Escaut basin, thus creating a direct waterway between Germany and France. The 90m height difference between the two basins was resolved by building four canal lifts and six locks. After the 1957 law requiring Belgian canals to meet European gauge standards, the canal was given a new course and the hydraulic lifts and locks were replaced with the Strépy-Thieu boat lift.