The best MTB trails around Sint-Niklaas

The most interesting secret of the Vlassenbroekbrug (N41) is that the bridge is actually half empty and was built for a highway that never materialized. When you drive or cycle over the bridge, this is immediately noticeable: Built for 2x2 lanes: When the concrete box girder bridge was opened in 1979, the government took into account that the N41 would become a major express road (or even highway) between Sint-Niklaas and Aalst. The construction was therefore immediately made wide enough for four lanes. Never finished: The plans for the full extension of the N41 were halted due to protests and changing insights. As a result, the western half of the bridge was never asphalted for cars. A cyclist's paradise: Where the second carriageway should have been, there is now a gigantic, wide, separate cycle path. Cyclists crossing the Scheldt therefore have unusually much space, purely as a reminder of an unfinished piece of Belgian road history.

give gas on a narrow lane

The numbers of the border posts on the Belgian-Dutch border run upwards from border post number 1 at the Drielandenpunt in Vaals, to 369 near Retranchement. It's funny that neither the first nor the last post is actually on the border (the evolution of the Zwin is partly responsible for the last post). On almost all posts, the year 1843 is shown. Only in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen are there 7 border posts with a later year, which were placed after land reclamation. The posts are made of cast iron and weigh 372 kilograms. Each post is equipped with the Belgian Lion on the Belgian side and the Dutch Lion with sword and arrows on the other side. And each post has a number. The Belgian-Dutch border is 458 kilometers long. On average, the posts are therefore just over a kilometer apart. source: bestemmingbuitenlucht.nl/

De Kouterwegel was the very first to win the Grage Weg Award, an initiative by the Province of Oost-Vlaanderen, which aims to reward inspiring slow roads that people not only use functionally, but which also invite an experience. De Kouterwegel is part of the Kaboutermolenpad, a special route that distinguishes itself through its pronounced experiential value, according to the award jury, an example of how slow roads can entice people to consciously choose a detour, purely for the sake of the experience. After all, a slow road is more than just a connection between two points. It is a place that stimulates one or more senses, that connects with the environment and that attracts users through its unique character. The Kaboutermolenpad - Kouterwegel succeeds in this, according to the jury, with flying colours. Along the path, playful gnome figures create wonder for young and old. Visitors can stop at a chapel that invites rest and connection, or enjoy a break at a nearby café. The unpaved path is simultaneously barrier-free and accessible to everyone, and is clearly signposted. The route winds through a varied and quiet landscape, where a rich palette of scents and colours constantly stimulates the senses. This is what can be read on pers.oost-vlaanderen.be... a recognisable report, but during my passage I thought: I hope that the prize money from the Grage Weg 2026 will be used to restore the gnome figures, which here and there are in considerable need of repair or beautification.

On an information board on site, the history of the Stekense Vaart can be read. It began as early as 1315. Count Robrecht III of Béthune then gave the order to dig a canal from Ghent to Hulst. In Stekene, this new 'waterway' turned marshes into arable land and increased export opportunities. In 1556, many fields in Stekene were submerged for a long time. King Philip II of Spain therefore granted a charter for a direct connection to the Durme. In 1628, King Philip IV gave permission to extend the Stekense Vaart by 1300 meters to Hulst. This connected the Vaart to the Westerschelde, which was advantageous for trade. Hulst could thus also be supplied with war materials. South of Moerbeke, between 1637 and 1643, a new canal was dug connecting the Stekense Vaart with the Moervaart. Ships sailing between Ghent and Stekene no longer had to make a detour via the Spelonckvaart. After the Eighty Years' War ended in 1648, the connection with the Westerschelde was broken. The economic benefit of the Vaart was lost. The Vaart was dammed at Tromp in 1691. In 1853, the municipality of Stekene became the owner of the Vaart on the condition that it also be responsible for maintenance. In 1950, the Vaart was declared unnavigable. Wastewater from Sint-Niklaas caused pollution and a strong stench, here at the Quay. In 1953, a cross dam was built in the Durme in Lokeren. The tidal effect on the Stekense Vaart was thus a thing of the past. In 1964, a water treatment plant was commissioned in Sint-Niklaas. This significantly improved the water quality in the Stekense Vaart. In 1995, a water treatment plant was also built in Stekene. In 1998, the area around the Vaart was classified as a quiet area.

The Wullebos is located on a former sand drift ridge and is 69 hectares in size. The name comes from "wulle", meaning "long-eared owl". The Abelebeek and Wullebosbeek streams run through the forest, both in a northerly direction. The Papdijk, built in 1691, also runs through the area. A checkerboard pattern of avenues is present both in the forest and in the agricultural area to its south. It indicates reclamation in the second half of the 18th century. The agricultural area was deforested in the course of the 19th century, preserving the checkerboard structure. The Baggaarthof is located in the area, around which numerous ghost stories circulate. source: Wikipedia

Nice gravel path runs parallel to the Oude Durme. Benches invite you to linger.

The station is located on the old railway line 52 between Antwerp and Dendermonde, which was completed in 1881 and closed in 1980. Sint-Amands and Baasrode-Noord then had a train station, but Briel did not. Today, there is a train stop for the steam train. (Commentary by guide Geert Mannaert)