The best traffic-free bike rides around Kloosterbos

Koewacht has two churches with the same name, Saint Philip and James Church: one (old) on Belgian territory and one (younger) on Dutch territory. This is about the Belgian church. In 1687, the chapel on Kruisstraat in Moerbeke was largely demolished and moved to Koewacht on the Dutch border. This chapel was demolished in 1713, followed by the laying of the foundation stone for the new church, part of the current place of worship, namely a hall church oriented to the south with a tower at the front, which was consecrated in 1714 by the Ghent bishop P. Van der Noot. The parish work was carried out by recollect fathers and also included the Dutch territory of Koewacht. In 1850, an extension of the church followed on the south side. Until 1914, the church also served the residents of Dutch Koewacht. In 1916, they obtained a wooden emergency church which was replaced in 1921 by a new church building (slightly further north, at the Kerkplein) with the same patron saints as the church on Belgian territory, which was recognized as a separate Belgian parish church in the same year and taken over by the diocese of Ghent. The church was deconsecrated in 2019. Parts of the interior, such as the baptismal font and the altar with relics, have been transferred to the church of the same name in the Dutch part of Koewacht.[2] Since then, the municipality of Moerbeke has used the church as a storage facility, pending a new purpose. source: Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed & Wikipedia

In the village of Wachtebeke, there is ample opportunity to park your car.

This open water (creek) is a remnant of a military inundation in the fight against the French in the War of the Spanish Succession - period 1701–1713. By breaching this dike, the polders behind it around Koewacht were flooded. When restoring the dike, they went around the deepest part of the stream channel.

On this winding gravel path, you will discover a special piece of the past and nature at Fort Sint-Jacob. This historic fort is part of the impressive Staats-Spaanse Linies and was strategically located between Fort Sint-Joseph and Fort Sint-Livinus, as part of the Line of Communication between Hulst and Sas van Gent. Here you can still feel the traces of the Eighty Years' War, when the fort was constructed in 1634 to protect the hinterland from invasions. Only a few years later, it fell into other hands, making the story of this place all the more captivating. Fort Sint-Jacob was once a compact, square redoubt with sturdy earthen ramparts and a protective moat. Today, these contours are still clearly visible in the landscape, allowing you as a visitor to literally walk through history. Thanks to careful restorations, including a reconstructed courtyard and a new drawbridge, the fort has been brought back to life. At the same time, nature has been given free rein here. The area is managed by Staatsbosbeheer and has grown into a peaceful nature reserve. Whether you are interested in history, enjoy walking, cycling, or simply want to escape the hustle and bustle: Fort Sint-Jacob invites you to come and see, discover, and enjoy.

An ideal stopping point on your cycling or hiking experience: Step back in time and discover a hidden piece of history: Fort Sint-Jacob. This fascinating remnant from the Eighty Years' War takes you back to a period when borders were still fought over and waterways made the difference between safety and danger. Located on the Passageule, this fort once formed a crucial link between the Spanish Netherlands and the States' territories. As part of the impressive States-Spanish Lines, Fort Sint-Jacob guarded the border and held back enemy infiltrations from the north. After the Peace of Münster, the fort lost its military function and slowly faded into obscurity. Nature took over, until around 2010 it was restored with care and respect for the past. Today, you can once again experience the contours of the past, including a replica of a cannon that symbolises the struggle that was once waged here. But Fort Sint-Jacob is more than just history. It is a place where peace and nature meet. The ramparts and moats now form a unique landscape where special plants and animals feel at home, typical of the brackish Zeeland area. Whether you are walking or cycling, this is an ideal place to pause, enjoy, and let yourself be carried away by the past. Let yourself be surprised and experience Fort Sint-Jacob for yourself.

The gravel path is semi-hardened. The landscape you see here was partly shaped during the Spanish-Dutch struggle in the Eighty Years' War. Note the dikes and elevations in the landscape. These were important during the turbulent war years.

Discover Fort Sint-Joseph, a special place full of history in the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen landscape. Together with forts Sint-Jacob and Sint-Livinus, this fort is part of the historical line of communication between Sas van Gent and Hulst. These defensive structures were built in 1634 by the Spanish as simple, square forts and served as outposts along the creeks and salt marshes. On this historical line, you will encounter the remnants of the fort. Imagine soldiers once looking out over the landscape from watch houses – small observation towers that guarded the area. The forts were surrounded by a wide moat of over 10 meters and were only accessible via a bridge, making them extra defensible. 💡 Did you know… The name of a fort immediately revealed which side of the line it was on? Spanish forts, like Sint-Joseph, were named after saints. Dutch (Protestant) forts, on the other hand, had earthly, often humorous names that reflected the harsh soldier's life, such as Misère, Boerenverdriet, or Kaas en Brood. A visit to Fort Sint-Joseph is not just a walk in nature, but also a journey back in time along the borders of the Spanish-Dutch lines.

Information about the Stadsmolen This grain mill was built in 1750 for the city council of Axel according to specifications by Pieter Telle. Contractors were Pieter Paulus and Jan Hoelands. This mill was built on the site of a wooden city mill that burned down in 1747. Axel has a rich history, but unfortunately much has disappeared due to the urge for renewal. This mill was dismantled to its shell in 1911, after which a mechanical mill (with two pairs of millstones) was set up inside. Around 1980, the first plans for a complete restoration were made, but it took some time before more happened. In 1995, the municipality bought the mill from Mr. Misseghers (who had been operating the mill for years). In 1998, the large-scale restoration started. First, the masonry was carefully restored and in some places completely renewed. The next step was the new stage. In the autumn of 1999, the cap, windshaft, tail and gears were mounted. The pair of 17-inch millstones comes from the mill in Ossenisse; the 16-inch English millstones come from a mechanical mill in St. Jansteen. A very remarkable historical component in this otherwise largely new mill is the windshaft, the PvO no. 616. This was ordered in 1869 for the lower mill of the southern three-stage gang of the Driemanspolder in Stompwijk (near the present-day Leidschendam), but disappeared from there as early as 1877, when this gang was demolished and replaced by a steam pumping station. Before ending up in Axel more than 120 years later, this windshaft served two other mills. Source: https://www.molens.nl/ontdek-molens/alle-molens/stadsmolen-te-axel