The polders of De Keignaert. - Ostend

Between the city of Ostend and the sub-municipality of Zandvoorde lies a varied landscape with meadows, ditches and fields: the historic polders of De Keignaert.

About 3,000 years ago this was still a peat area , later flooded by the sea, which deposited a layer of sand and sea clay.

In the Middle Ages, these mudflats were reclaimed . During the Siege of Ostend (1601 – 1604), the Geuzen dug a breach in the dunes . A very muddy plain with channels was created, through which the seawater flowed in and out daily. This allowed them to better defend the besieged city against the Spanish. These channels are still visible in the polders as creeks, such as the Keignaert , Zoute- and Sluiskreek and Oude Straatkreek. With the construction of dikes, the flooded land was later reclaimed.

Endangered meadow birds such as black-tailed godwit, redshank and skylark returned here after the restoration management and typical reed and marsh birds such as reed warbler, reed bunting and bluethroat found a safe breeding ground here again. Also avocet, little ringed plover, sand martin and little wood monkey – an extremely rare heron species – made their comeback.

In winter, more and more wigeons, grey geese and pink-footed geese stay in the Oostend creek area. In addition to common merganser, grebe, gadwall and pochard, the hen harrier and the short-eared owl are also permanent winter guests. Pools and ditches now form an excellent habitat for frogs, dragonflies and damselflies.

Typical plants, such as the cuckoo flower and the salt-loving sea aster, also feel at home in the area again.

Willem Vandenameele