The best walks and hikes around Stekene

The Stropersbos is located right on the Belgian-Dutch border and forms a whole with the Clingse Bossen, as the forest on the Dutch side of the border is called. The history of the forest dates back to the 13th century. This means that the forest has experienced wars, and from one of those wars, the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713), very clear traces can still be seen: there are still a number of remnants of the Line that served here in 1701. A little further north, there are also remains of Fort Sint-Jan (from which the Dutch municipality Sint-Jan-Steen derives its name). But even if you are not interested in that history, the Stropersbos is a special place, both for the tree and plant lover, the birdwatcher, the playing child, the boot-wearing walker who likes to trudge through mud, the bivouacker, ... and everyone who simply enjoys a walk. There is a good chance you will encounter wild horses, pass grazing sheep, or that - who knows, maybe you'll be as lucky as I was - roe deer or a fox will cross your path. In short: a very beautiful hiking area ...

The smuggling trade thrived in De Klinge and its surroundings. This illegal cross-border trade went in both directions, with all sorts of products being smuggled to the Netherlands or Belgium. In the spring of 1915, the Germans attempted to put a stop to smuggling by constructing the "dodendraad" (death wire). An electric wire under high voltage was intended to deter smugglers. The high voltage on the "Dodendraad" meant that people were electrocuted upon the slightest contact. The inhabitants were not yet aware of the dangers of electricity during this period. For this reason, protective wires were placed on either side, made of barbed wire or chicken wire. The German occupiers wanted to prevent war volunteers, espionage messages, or smugglers from crossing the border with the border barrier. Inventive smugglers quickly found numerous ways to overcome the wire, yet hundreds of daredevils lost their lives during their crossing along the Belgian-Dutch border. At least three victims fell in De Klinge and Meerdonk. After the Second World War, the eternal cat-and-mouse game between customs officers and smugglers became grimmer. Butter smuggling became a lucrative business, and armored cars, "kraaienpoten" (crow's feet), and firearms made their appearance. The "kraaienpoot" was made of metal and had four points. There was always one sharp point facing upwards, intended to puncture the tires of customs service vehicles. Here, at the "Dodendraadmonument", lies an enlarged "kraaienpoot". The "dodendraad" was constructed in the summer of 1915; in November 2015, a section was reconstructed at the border post. On the site, in 2015, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the installation of the "dodendraad", a linden tree was planted, donated by the Koninklijke Oudheidkundige Kring van het Land van Waas. source: tracesofwar.nl

Actually, it's not allowed in the Clingse Bossen: go off the path, roam through the forest and build huts. Because plants get damaged and animals get scared. But here you can! So come and splash around with water, climb a tree, put on your own show in the theatre or play hide-and-seek!". an information board challenges children to romp around here. "Feel free to bring your parents: just put them on a bench with a good book and they'll be no trouble at all!" it continues, almost in the style of Annie M.G. Schmidt ;-)

On a plot of almost three hectares, between Brugstraat, Kaaistraat and the railway line, drinks dealer Charles Vydt built an outdoor swimming pool, party hall, and café with terrace in 1936. After WWII, Het Zomerhuis experienced its years of success. For decades, it was a popular destination where many generations of Stekenaars and visitors from far and wide spent their holidays. At the end of the 20th century, Het Zomerhuis fell into disrepair. In 2008, the municipality bought the former recreational domain to give a new tourist impulse to the site. In 2013, the old building was demolished. In the following years, plans for redevelopment were developed. In 2019, the works started and on October 17 and 18, 2020, Park Zomerhuis, with brasserie Het Zomerhuis, officially opened to the public. Shortly thereafter, the surrounding green space, the current park, was laid out. Source: Information panels on site

During the Second World War, all bridges in Stekene were blown up by the Germans. In 1945, all five were restored. Seven years later, the Stekense Vaart was declared unnavigable. At Aan de Brugstraat, everything was dammed to guarantee pure drinking water for Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. As a result, the canal between Kaaistraat and Tragelstraat, and thus also here at the bridge near Park Zomerhuis, became an open sewer. The canal problem lasted for years, with complaints and symptoms of illness among the local residents. The commissioning of the water treatment plant in Sint-Niklaas, in 1964, finally solved the problem fundamentally. bron: stekene.be

On a plot of almost three hectares, between Brugstraat, Kaaistraat and the railway line, drinks dealer Charles Vydt built an outdoor swimming pool, ballroom and café with terrace in 1936. After WWII, Het Zomerhuis experienced its years of success. For decades it was a popular destination where many generations of Stekene residents and visitors from far and wide spent their holidays. At the end of the 20th century, Het Zomerhuis fell into disrepair. In 2008, the municipality bought the former recreational domain to give a new tourist impulse to the site. In 2013, the old building was demolished. In the following years, plans for redevelopment were developed. In 2019, the works started and on 17 and 18 October 2020, Park Zomerhuis, with brasserie Het Zomerhuis, officially opened to the public. Shortly afterwards, the surrounding green area, the current park, was laid out. source: Information panels on site

The wooden arch bridge over the Stekense Vaart, named after Frans Coppens, was receiver-clerk in the municipality of Sinaai for almost a quarter of a century. He played an important role in "de Groote Watering van Sinay", the name given to the project launched by the Boerenbond in 1926. This project was initiated after repeated floods and aimed to make the polders 'dry'. The construction of the pumping station near Hondsnest was one of the first achievements within this project. During the Second World War, the unemployed were employed to clean or widen ditches. Under the impetus of dike reeve Jozef "meester" Maes and... receiver-clerk Frans Coppens (!), major reclamation works were carried out in the 60s, continuing into the following decades. Thus, Hondsnest got a new pumping station in 1975. In the meantime, the watering area had been converted into a polder, pursuant to the polder law of June 3, 1957. source: info file "Polder Daknam-Sinaai"

The lookout tower in the Fondatie van Boudelo nature reserve is a design by the young architectural firm Baeten Hylebos Architecten. The tower stands diagonally relative to the avenue amidst the undergrowth, a few meters from the path. In the Architecture Book Flanders N°14 (2021), it is poetically described as follows: In the doorway "light seeps in through the cracks of the planked walls and falls onto a staircase that winds invitingly around the central column. The walk upwards already offers, here and there, some perspectives on the surrounding natural beauty. For this purpose, the planks of the wall conveniently lie in a horizontal articulation. At the top of the stairs, the true reward awaits: an impressive tableau of fields, ponds, forests, birds, and if you're lucky, a leap of deer."