The Afwateringskanaal van Duurswold is a straight drainage canal in the Dutch province of Groningen, dug between 1869 and 1871 to manage water drainage from the Duurswold region. It stretches 19.1 kilometers in length, varies in width from 13 to 20 meters, and has a depth ranging from 2.85 to 4.10 meters. The canal begins at the Slochterdiep near the hamlet of Schaaphok, runs in a north-northeasterly direction past the hamlet of De Paauwen, then bends eastward before flowing into the western side of the Schildmeer. The area lies between the cities of Groningen and Hoogezand to the southwest and Appingedam to the northeast.

The canal is part of a broader water system known as the Kanalen Duurswold, which also includes the Slochterdiep, the Scharmer Ae, the Woltersumer Aa, and De Groeve. These waterways stand in open connection with the Schildmeer, a naturally formed lake that has been enlarged over time through peat extraction and erosion. The Schildmeer is part of the Natuurnetwerk Nederland and forms a component of the ecological corridor known as the Robuuste Verbindingszone 'Natte As', which aims to connect wetland nature areas across the Netherlands.

While the primary function of the canal is water management — drainage and supply — it is also officially recognized as serving recreational boating and fishing. The relatively consistent depth and moderate width make it navigable, and the connection to the Schildmeer offers the possibility of extending a paddle onto open water. The canal follows the course of a former natural waterway, the Schildmaar, which historically linked the Schildmeer with the Slochter Ae and the Fivel.