Cold Stream

Do you know the Koude Beek? This waterway makes its way from South to North through the southern edge of Antwerp and flirts with municipal boundaries. From Hove to Deurne, it winds through parks, along old farms, and old breweries. Along the way, we cross three municipalities and the hidden Klein-Zwitserland. Koen Cuypers and Griet Lambert from Natuurpunt department Land van Reyen take us along.
 

The Koude Beek is still one of the few open streams flowing through the southern edge of Antwerp. Its valley winds its way through various municipalities. “The source of the Koude Beek is in Hove, near the castle domain Fruithout,” Koen says. “From there, it flows along the Bessemstraat in Boechout and the old brewery Prins Albert up to the Oude Steenweg/Liersesteenweg, where it disappears towards Park Savelkoul. It continues winding through Mortsel, Borsbeek, and Wommelgem, until it eventually empties into the Groot Schijn in Deurne.”

Since 2004, three local Natuurpunt departments – Zuidrand Antwerpen, Land van Reyen, and Schijnvallei – have joined forces to put the Koude Beek back on the map. “We dream of a protected nature connection area that links Hove with Borsbeek through a green corridor or strip,” Griet explains. “In Park Savelkoul, you can admire the creek, at least if the water level is high enough. There, it meanders through the landscape, like a hidden vein of life.”

Mediahuis België