Polders of Kruibeke, Rupelmonde and Bazel

With the ferry Hemiksem - Bazel exploring this largest floodplain in our country.

A walk through the Land of Waas is a unique experience. This historic region is characterized by its marshy polders, creeks, mudflats, and salt marshes along the banks of the Scheldt. We start our exploration with a ferry from Hemiksem (located in the province of Antwerp) - taking us to the East Flemish Bazel in the Waasland.

Bazel is one of the three villages that make up the largest floodplain in Belgium: the Polders of Kruibeke. This area of 600 hectares includes unique polders and creeks with mudflats and salt marshes, swamp forests, and open grazing lands with the largest deer population in Flanders. Today we attempt to explore this environment via beautiful, marshy walking paths along the Scheldt’s tidal streams and creeks.

In addition to Bazel, the villages of Rupelmonde and Kruibeke are also worth a visit. Rupelmonde is known for its historic buildings, including the Saint Nicholas Church and the castle of Rupelmonde. In Kruibeke, we can visit the Castle of Wissekerke, surrounded by a beautiful garden.

In short, a walk through the Polders of Kruibeke is a real recommended experience for nature lovers and history enthusiasts. The unique environment, beautiful walking paths, and historic buildings make this region a gem in the Land of Waas.

Sights along the way:

- Zeeschelde and access to a Scheldt beach behind the Faseitpolder - Watch the tides (ebb and flow)

- Polders of Kruibeke, Bazel, and Rupelmonde - largest floodplain in Belgium

- Swedish Pavilion of Expo 1930 in Antwerp and former open-air swimming pool

- Former power station of Schelle INTERESCAUT or 'interschelde' from 1930, at that time the largest coal-powered power station in Europe

- Rupelmonde, important trading place in the 12th century and birthplace of cartographer Gerard Mercator with his statue at Our Lady of the Visitation Church

- The old castle ruin of Rupelmonde or the Count's Tower - a water castle from the 12th century that once had 17 towers - prison where Mercator was imprisoned for 7 months for heresy

- The Spanish mill is the only tide mill capable of grinding in our country

- the Vliet, a waterway that flows into the Scheldt in Rupelmonde

- The Black Madam - a statue that was placed in 1996, on the occasion of "Art in the village". The woman, with her grand, voluptuous, and sensual forms, symbolizes the Scheldt

- Steendorp - a part of the municipality of Temse that changed its name due to the large brick industry and was called Scausele or Scousele in 1166

- The lookout sadness - nature reserve of 4.8ha consisting of freshwater mudflats with unique flora

- Derelict landing stage and last operating brick kiln of Steendorp

- Old clay pits with Rupelian clay transformed into contemporary nature areas like Roomkouter, Gelaagpark, and Vuurkouter

- Fort of Steendorp or the former Fort of Rupelmonde, former fort in the fortification belt around Antwerp and since 2001 a nature reserve

- Rupelmondse Creek, formed by a dike breach in the year 1715 with the Beaver Path to former holiday cottages Karpershuisje and the Coninckshofke or Koningshofke

- Bazel, one of the 50 most beautiful villages in Flanders

- Castle Wisselkerke, a water castle from the 12th century with the oldest cast-iron suspension bridge of this type on the European mainland

- Bazelse - Kruibeekse Creek and the Barbierbeek - border between Kruibeke and Bazel