The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe

Fort Bedmar is a fort that is part of the Bedmar Line, part of the Dutch-Spanish Lines. It was originally built in 1596 under the name 'Fort Klinge' by the Army of Flanders to stop Parma's advance. The Spaniards had conquered Antwerp in 1585 and now went to war to recapture Hulst. The Dutch had flooded the polders around Hulst to form a barrier against the Spaniards. Nevertheless, the latter succeeded in taking Hulst on August 15, 1596. In 1645, the Dutch managed to recapture Hulst. Three years later, the Peace of Münster was signed. In 1664, the Dutch-Spanish border was definitively established. During the War of the Spanish Succession, which began in 1701, there were hostilities again. Fort De Klinge, located on the border, was expanded under the leadership of Isidro de la Cueva y Benavides, Marquis of Bedmar. It became part of the Bedmar Line and the name of Fort De Klinge was changed to Fort Bedmar. It was now a star-shaped fort with an area of 16 ha. However, it hardly served, as peace was signed in 1713. (source: Wikipedia) Nothing more is visible of the fort itself. Here and there on your path, you will find signs with a map of the fort, indicating where you are. At the campsite named after the fort, there are signs with more historical information.

Part of Groot Saeftinghe Smaekt, Grenspark Groot Saeftinghe, Bike Tour: Cycle and Enjoy on June 28, 2026 https://saeftinghesmaekt.eu

Access gate to the Sint-Jacobsgat, a pond that got its name from the saint on whose feast day the dikes once broke here. The nature reserve is freely accessible. The gates connect to the wheelchair path. As nature associations and authorities often do, horses and cattle were also used here. These are usually 'tough' breeds. However, here use is made of cattle and horses from local farmers. This restores a situation from earlier times, when large grazers maintained a varied semi-open landscape through their grazing behaviour. Extensive grazing creates all sorts of variations in plant growth, which is beneficial for the diversity of fauna and flora. source: information board on site

Het Natuur.huis Panneweel is located on an old farmyard. It is a starting point for hikes or bike tours in the area and a centre for nature and environmental education and nature management. In front of Het Natuur.huis Panneweel, there are two picnic tables. We make these permanently available to any passer-by who wishes to enjoy the quiet atmosphere for a moment. Behind the nature house, Natuurpunt Waasland-Noord in collaboration with VELT vzw has planted a high-stemmed orchard with about 60 old and new fruit varieties (apple, pear, plum, cherry, quince). A beekeeper has beehives in the bee hall. A small-scale water purification system with reeds and marsh plants behind the barn cleans the wastewater from the nature house and the dwelling again. Salamanders live in the pool with purified water, a beautiful proof of good water quality. source: natuurpunt.be

The creek area of Saleghem is more than the sum of its parts. The nature reserve consists of the Grote Saleghemgeul on one side, and the Sint-Jakobsgat and the Kieldrechtse Watergang on the other. This triumvirate of water creeks then flows into the Grote Geule in Kieldrecht. Each separately is beautiful, yes. But together they are magical. The succession of gently sloping banks, grassland and hay, rare birds and colourful flowers, rustling reeds and melancholic willows: it silences a person. It inspires awe for the magic of nature. And everyone can enjoy it – even wheelchair users, because there is a special wheelchair walk around the creek lakes. This is what waasland.be writes... and there is nothing to contradict it.

Near the west end of the Saeleghemkreek you will find IJshoeve De Boey, which is open from April (until ...? 'end of the season') from Tuesday to Sunday, daily from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The ice cream is made with fresh Jersey milk from the polders of Sint-Gillis-Waas. Good to know: you can also buy pots of De Boey ice cream at the Sint-Niklaas station (in a vending machine in the corridor to the left before the doors to the platform hall).

The Sint-Cornelius church of Meerdonk is somewhat hidden behind linden trees on two sides. The history of the church dates back to 1682. A first chapel, dependent on the church of Vrasene, was built then. During the French revolution it was publicly sold, with the intention of demolishing it, which however did not happen. In 1807 Meerdonk was established as a separate parish. In 1834 the church was enlarged. Two years later, however, the entire lower church was replaced by a new one, and in 1839 a new choir was built. In 1844, the octagonal wooden tower was finally placed above the western facade. The whole is described as a "neoclassical pseudo-basilical church". Inside, among other things, a 17th-century sandstone statue of the patron saint, Sint-Cornelius, a rococo pulpit from 1768, confessionals from the first half of the 19th century. source: Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed

With bench to rest