The best cycling routes around Sint-Niklaas

The Frans Coppens after whom this wooden arched bridge over the Stekense Vaart was named was receiver-registrar 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 started by the Boerenbond in 1926. That project arose after repeated floods, and aimed to make the polders 'dry'. The establishment of the pumping station near Hondsnest was one of the first achievements within that 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-registrar Frans Coppens (!), major sanitation works were carried out in the 1960s, which continued in the following decades. For example, Hondsnest received a new pumping station in 1975. In the meantime, the watering had been transformed into a polder following the law on polders of June 3, 1957. source: info file "Polder Daknam-Sinaai"

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"

Where cyclists and hikers can enjoy the landscape at their own pace.

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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

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.

The largest flood plain in Flanders lies in the Polders of Kruibeke along the Scheldt River. Don't worry, flooding only happens a few times a year. Every other day of the year, you can walk, cycle, play, or fish carefree: it's all possible in the Polders of Kruibeke. The paths lead you through a diverse landscape of mudflats and salt marshes, alder swamp forests, and meadow bird habitats. Don't forget your binoculars for wildlife spotting. It's definitely worth a visit!