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Grote Geule Nature Reserve – Kieldrecht Wetlands loop from Kieldrecht

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Hiking trails & Routes

Grote Geule Nature Reserve – Kieldrecht Wetlands loop from Kieldrecht

Moderate

3.9

(27)

120

hikers

Grote Geule Nature Reserve – Kieldrecht Wetlands loop from Kieldrecht

03:02

12.1km

10m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 29, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Natuurreservaat Grote Geule

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.28 km

Grote Geule Nature Reserve

Highlight • Natural

Bring binoculars. Bones are a must in wetter periods. This is a loop walk so not everything is unpaved (but you will come across a cafe). Thanks to Pasar Waasland

Translated by Google •

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1.89 km

A 'weel' (also called 'wiel' or 'kolk') is a deep pool of water that originated after a dike breach. The enormous force of the water during such a breach created a deep hole behind the dike, which often remained in the landscape as a mere or pool after the dike was repaired. Such 'welen' often develop into valuable nature reserves.
The Grote and Kleine Weel form an important link between the nature reserves Grote Geule and Drijdijck. The Grote Geule is an offshoot of the former, much larger Land van Saeftinghe.
source: natuurpunt.be

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3.27 km

Kieldrecht Wetlands

Highlight • Natural

Kieldrecht is a village in the Belgian province of East Flanders and a sub-municipality of Beveren, it was an independent municipality until the municipal reorganization of 1977. Kieldrecht is located in the north of the municipality near the border with the Netherlands. The village center forms one continuous whole with the village center of the Dutch Nieuw-Namur (near the municipality of Hulst).

Source: nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieldrecht

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.66 km

Drijdijck

Nature Reserve

4.25 km

Los Zandpad

Highlight • Natural

4.88 km

View of Drijdijck

Highlight • River

9.22 km

Grote Geule

Highlight • Other

You pass here along the western end of the Kieldrechtse Kreek, better known as Grote Geule. It is an old flood channel from the 16th and 17th centuries. It has a steep and soft bank where brackish influences on the vegetation can still be seen. Some peat areas make the area very special. Many birds, such as the bluethroat and reed warbler, also find peace and breeding opportunities there. In winter, you will find many species of ducks and geese there. The area managed by Natuurpunt Waasland-Noord is not freely accessible, only on request. sources: natuurpunt.be and wikipedia

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10.9 km

Bench and History of Fort Verboom

Highlight • Historical Site

The bench and information board are located at the eastern end of a four-kilometer-long low sand ridge that connects Kieldrecht with De Klinge. Due to its higher elevation, this sand ridge is less susceptible to flooding than the surrounding areas. This also made it of great military importance during the various wars of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. We therefore find several old forts and lines on the sand ridge: fort De Klinge (1595), fort Fuentes (1591, renamed fort Spinola in 1626), the Koningsdijk (1674), and fort Bedmar (1701-1702).
In 1701, the Spanish army decided to build a new fort north of Kieldrecht. The fort was built on the spot where the Koningsdijk met the sand ridge of the so-called Kouter(berg). The new defensive work was named after the Fleming Prosper Georges Verboom, an important officer in the Spanish army and one of the engineers of the Bedmar line.
The fort served in the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1714). As early as 1703, it was captured by the army of the Republic of the United Netherlands, the so-called 'Staatsen'. After the war, the fort lost its military importance and almost completely disappeared into the landscape.
Fort Verboom has a triangular shape, deviating from the usual four- or five-sided fort construction. The point of the fort is directed north, and thus straight at the enemy. The southern side is equipped with two pentagonal bastions. The entrance to the fort is located between the two bastions.
Fort Verboom is quite large. The distance between the two bastion points is approximately 250 meters. The size of a fort is determined by the range of the cannons. The defensive belt is formed by a glacis (a gently sloping strip), a moat, and an earthen rampart. The fort is entirely constructed of earth, as was customary for forts of this period. Earth is a cheaper building material than stone. Furthermore, an earthen fort can be built faster than a stone one and is more resistant to heavy cannonballs.
Today, Fort Verboom has largely disappeared, and the site has been completely incorporated into the built environment. The fort lies right on the national border, with its point in the Netherlands and its southern side with the two bastions in Belgium. Remnants of the moats can still be seen in some backyards.
... so reads the information board.

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11.7 km

Boundary post 271

Highlight • Monument

The demarcation of the Belgian-Dutch border came about after the Treaty of Maastricht in 1843. Border post number 1 is located at the Drielandenpunt in Vaals, the last post, border post number 365, is in the Zwin west of Retranchement in Zeeland-Flandres. Here, between Kieldrecht (B) and Nieuw-Namen (NL) is number 271.

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12.1 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.44 km

3.97 km

2.19 km

1.36 km

123 m

Surfaces

5.05 km

2.21 km

1.88 km

1.74 km

713 m

499 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Monday 24 August

26°C

12°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Grote Geule Nature Reserve – Kieldrecht Wetlands loop from Kieldrecht

Grote Geule Nature Reserve

Kleine Weel

Kieldrecht Wetlands

Los Zandpad

View of Drijdijck

Grote Geule

Bench and History of Fort Verboom

Boundary post 271

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