Starting from the centre of the small village of Hengstdijk, the route crosses farmland - crops and orchards - to reach the meander of the Scheldt that surrounds Ossenisse.
There is a 'beautiful' view in the distance to the west of the port facilities and chemical industries of Terneuzen. There is an even more beautiful view of the comings and goings of barges, LNG tankers, container ships and other vessels of all kinds between the port of Antwerp and the North Sea.
The 14 kilometres along the 'coast' allow you to fully appreciate the unique environment of the area. At low tide, you can clearly see the sandbanks and the channels that boats must follow... navigation must not be easy in foggy or stormy weather.
We also saw a few species of birds (barnacle geese, curlews, gulls, etc.), but we expected to see many more. The flocks were concentrated more in the marshes and canals near Hengstdijk than on the coast.
After the monument at kilometre 18, commemorating the catastrophic floods of 1953, the route heads straight inland, crossing hectares of orchards to return to the starting point between the lake, canals and marshes.
Be warned, however, that the downsides of this walk are its length, its straight lines and the fact that you are almost never off the tarmac.
A breath of fresh air at the gateway to the port of Antwerp
Completely different from the destinations and landscapes of our usual hikes, this walk takes you on a discovery of the western branch of the Scheldt estuary and the polders in the south of Zeeland.
Specially designed to avoid crowds and stay away from towns, we did it on a weekday outside of school holidays.
A beautiful sunny day and a steady but not excessive wind made it a wonderful and exotic discovery.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
–
–
-
Activity: Walking -
Distance: 24.47 km -
Average duration: 7h 00 -
Difficulty: Difficult -
-
Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 9 m -
Descent: - 9 m -
-
Highest point: 12 m -
Lowest point: -4 m
-
Country:
Netherlands
-
Start/End: N 51.34393° / E 3.993713° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Description of the walk
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 3 m - Hengstdijk
- S/E : km 24.47 - alt. 3 m - Hengstdijk
Worth a visit
Don't go all the way there without stopping to visit the small fortified town of Hulst.
Other walks in the area
The ramparts of Hulst
Visorando Member 3.02 km
+7 m
-7 m
0h 55
Easy
Departure from Netherlands
If you are passing near Hulst, don't hesitate to stop off for a short, healthy walk along the old ramparts and a stroll through the town centre along the inner canal and the Grote Markt.
Veere, the pearl of Zeeland
Visorando Member 17.00 km
+7 m
-7 m
4h 55
Moderate
Departure from Netherlands
Get ready for a walk through water, history and nature, in a landscape shaped by man and time.The Kanaal door Walcheren, dug between 1870 and 1873 to connect Middelburg to the sea, is now a peaceful towpath. The creation of the Veerse Meer in 1960-61 transformed the former tidal area into a calm lake, profoundly reshaping the territory.
Around the lake, meadows, polders, reeds, canals and islets form a natural mosaic that is ideal for birds and aquatic life.The village of Gapinge, perched on a slight hill, preserves a15th-century church and the memory of a rural past, while Veere recalls its former maritime influence.
A gentle, contemplative hike through water, landscapes and memory.
For more walks, use our search engine .
The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.
