The Katerveersluizen is a complex of two locks at the mouth of the Willemsvaart in the river IJssel. Their construction was made possible by a major financial contribution from King Willem I, to whom the canal owes its name. The complex of locks and drawbridges forms part of a sconce, which was part of Zwolle's defence line, constructed in 1598.

A small lock with a passage width of about 6 metres was built in 1818-1819. In the second half of the 19th century, this lock proved to be too small for the increasingly larger ships. Therefore, in 1873, a new larger lock was built with a width of 12 metres. At the same time the bridges - including the double iron drawbridge shown in the photo - were built over the locks. In 1964, the Zwolle-IJsselkanaal was opened, so the locks are no longer used for boating.