Info

Welcome to the Steenbeemden

A unique river landscape characterizes the Steenbeemden. A dry river dune merges seamlessly into a wet valley. This transition creates very valuable nature that is rare in Flanders. The area consists of meadows, reed beds, flowery bushes, swamp forests, dry heathland and old forests with a high cultural-historical value. Natuurpunt ensures that the nature and landscape of the Steenbeemden are preserved for the future.

Crooked ham

The Kromme ham is a natural winter dike about 300m from the Kleine Nete. It is actually a river dune that was built up by the wind during the ice ages. So the river could flood up to this point.

The farmers settled on the river dune because they lived here close to the rich valley and could still keep their feet dry during the wet winter. The sprouting trees were always used as firewood. On the other side of the Kromme Ham are the infertile, dry sandy soils. By allowing sheep and cows to graze here, a heath landscape was created here.

The transition from wet and rich to dry and barren was a favourable starting point for the valuable nature that the Steenbeemden harbours. The hazel worm can be found in this biotope and the great spotted woodpecker rumbles in early spring.

Source; Natuurpunt

Eddy&Rita