Meetjesland forests and canals

This month we explore provincial domain Het Leen in Eeklo. In this former military domain there are about 10 km of concrete roads, so you can also walk with a wheelchair or a buggy.

Meetjesland is a rural region northwest of Ghent. Characteristic of the region are the polder land and the creeks, but also many forests and canals. This walk runs largely through the provincial domain Het Leen, a 262 ha forest area, and follows the Schipdonk Canal and the narrow medieval Lievevaartje. Within the domain we mainly walk on unpaved paths, but due to its past as a military domain (ammunition depot until 1973) there are still about 10 km of concrete roads left, which makes the area excellent for wheelchairs and buggies. There is a 5 km long walk on paved roads indicated by red arrows (red line on the map). You can also walk an additional 1.5 km through arboreta 1 and 2 on wheelchair-friendly semi-paved paths.

--------------------------
Departure parking Het Leen (Gentsesteenweg 80, Eeklo) (V). Leave parking RA until KP10 – RD and after 150 m, at KP 11, RA follow KP 12. To KP 12 for wheelchairs and buggies LA follow the red arrow. The walking route goes RD (unpaved) to KP 13 and further KP 4. Follow RA towards FP 3. To next KP of paths LA and to sofa again LA. 100 m further RA. At the end of the forest you go through a lock in the fence and you enter a straight drive with stately poplars. On the roadway you come to KP 3. LA direction KP 2 – on main road same direction continue on cycle path. At the bridge over Schipdonkvaart you will arrive at KP 2. Cross the bridge LA canal 1.5 km until the next bridge – KP 1. Here you can shorten the route by 7 km. At KP 1 LA bridge over and RD to KP 6, then RD to KP 5, where you continue the normal route.// At KP 1 LA cross the bridge and RA unpaved tow road along the Schipdonk Canal (3) towards KP 99. On next bridge LA to KP 99. RD direction KP 7: over the bridge paved road RA along the narrow Lievevaart (4). Follow for 1 km. To triple jump sharp LA. Cross road and RA on cycle path until KP 7 (chapel). Sharp LA and after 50 meters RA towards KP 6. Ignore the 'Private road' signs that are not intended for walkers. The road turns into gravel. Past a single farm (5) the road turns into an earth road. You enter the forest, where the path can be very muddy. At T you come to FP 6. RA to FP 5. RA wide concrete road towards KP 17. !! After 200 meters unpaved path RA (also region GR). There are now a number of path changes: follow the directions to FP 17. To FP 17 LA to FP 15 (bank). Here RA to FP 16. Towards the end again a number of path changes (perfectly indicated). To FP 16 LA towards FP 11. You turn around a beautiful pond. To concrete RD, always follow KP 11. !! At the crossroads take the left branch and then 1st concrete road RA along a picnic and play area. At KP 11 RA to KP 10 and you are back at the parking lot.