The best cycling routes around Heidebos

beautiful forest with fauna and flora

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.

The Dambrug bridge dates from the interwar period and was restored and partially renewed around 1945 after war damage. Originally, the bridge was manually operated, but it now has hydraulic operation. Source: Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed

On Friday, April 5, 1867, the Spletterenbrug was officially opened. Between Moerbeke and Lokeren, trains stopped in Daknam and Eksaarde. In Moerbeke, travelers could transfer to railway line 77 towards Zelzate or towards Sint-Gillis-Waas. That the intention was to one day double the 9-kilometer railway line to two tracks is still visible on the Spletterenbrug. Both bridge abutments are indeed twice as wide as the bridge deck itself. It never came to that. On the contrary. The railway line suffered during both world wars, causing traffic to be suspended for months. For example, retreating German soldiers blew up the bridge at the end of World War I. Less than a year after the armistice, in September 1919, the line was already restored and trains could run on the route again. In 1940, the Belgian army, in turn, tried to slow down the German advance by destroying the bridge. The bridge was repaired again. In 1971, the last train chugged along the route. After more than a century of train traffic, the tracks were dismantled and the route was redeveloped as a cycling and walking path from Lokeren to Moerbeke. The Spletterenbrug itself was preserved and restored in 2017. The seven layers of paint were removed, and the bridge regained its original, dark gray color. Source: industriecultuur.be

Bovendurme? The naming of the different waters in the vicinity is sometimes quite confusing and requires an explanation: The Bovendurme is the part of the Durme located in the Ghent canals basin. The river begins at the confluence between the Zuidlede and the Moervaart near Daknam. It then flows further along Daknam and through the center of Lokeren, and flows into the Benedendurme near the Molsbroek. Previously, the Bovendurme and Benedendurme were one river called the Durme. But due to regular floods, a dam was built at the Molsbroek, which split the river into two parts. Because of this, the Benedendurme is often still called the "Durme", but the Bovendurme is mistakenly referred to as the Moervaart. Wikipedia

Daknambrug in Daknam, a sub-municipality of Lokeren. This charming swing bridge over the Durme is located at the site of a former ferry crossing on the old Lille-Tilburg highway. Such a ferry served as a bridge to transport people, livestock, horses, and vehicles. The current swing bridge has replaced a small wooden bridge since the 1930s. At that time, the Durme was straightened here between the confluence of the Zuidlede and Moervaart at Spletterenbrug and the bend near Middendam. In the summer, you can see the bridge keeper opening the bridge to let pleasure boats pass, sailing to or from Lokeren.

Opened on October 1, 2012, the Brug Ter Beuken provides a safe and green connection to the city center. It has since become a fixed landmark in the landscape: the beautiful red cycle and footbridge that spans the Durme at the end of Vijgenstraat. The bridge is 21m long. Source: axiradio.be

Nice quiet cycle path next to the Moervaart