Flower-rich spring at the Keerdijk

Although a moist and wet area will show its biodiversity more in summer, you can already be overwhelmed in May by the abundant splendor of cow parsley, hawthorn, and numerous flowering grass species along the Keerdijk.

This road, the Keerdijk, ran from the church of Webbekom to the railway. The old name for this dike was Keerwei and was already mentioned in the 15th century. 'Keer' comes from 'kar' and thus the road was a wide, drier meadow over which several carts could drive side by side to the city. It was not until the 18th century that 'wei' was changed to 'dijk'. The meaning of dike is that of a road that has been raised in relation to the surrounding land. Obviously, with the intention of having a dry road through the marshes both in winter and summer.

Jan Rymenams