The Leopold Canal was excavated between 1846 and 1849. Pastor Jozef Olivier Andries from Middelburg (near Maldegem) was the main driving force behind the project. The man was a member of the National Congress, a representative, and a canon of the Bruges cathedral. When the Dutch closed all the drainage sluices to the Western Scheldt after the Belgian War of Independence, there was a lot of waterlogging and the accompanying silt and marsh fever. The new canal was meant to discharge the excess water directly into the sea. The fact that the water is clean is why it is colloquially known as 'den Blinker' further downstream. This contrasts with 'den Stinker', the Diversion Canal of the Lys, which discharges less pure water into the sea.
Copyright: All rights reserved
| | Public | Danish • Dutch • French • German • Italian • Spanish
Address: Leopoldkanaal, Damme, Belgium
Statistics
Select one of the most popular activities below or refine your search.
Discover the most beautiful and popular trails in the area, carefully bundled into appropriate selections.
Select one of the most popular categories below or be inspired by our selections.
Discover the most beautiful and popular attractions in the area, carefully bundled in appropriate selections.
With RouteYou, it's easy to create your own customised maps. Simply plot your route, add waypoints or nodes, add places of interest and places to eat and drink, and then easily share it with your family and friends.
Route planner
<iframe src="https://plugin.routeyou.com/poiviewer/free/?language=en&params.poi.id=200214" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
More than 11,800,000 routes
More than 15,000,000 users
More than 4,500,000 points of interest
Kerkstraat 108
9050 Gentbrugge, Belgium
© 2006-2026 RouteYou - www.routeyou.com
