The best traffic-free bike rides around Kloosterbos

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.

quiet

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

Very beautiful, calm, greenery.