Junction walk Den Battelaer - Heffen

Den Battelaer is an old overstoming area between the Senne and the Leuven-Dijle canal.
Rivers once flowed meandering through this landscape between Mechelen and Rumst. Dijle and Zenne flow together and a little further the Nete joins this river and it becomes the Rupel. From the 10th century, under the influence of monasteries, diking began and polders were created. These were managed on a small scale by local farmers for hundreds of years. Grass was the main crop, because that was the fuel for the horses, the car avant la lettre. The land was wet and drainage of water was difficult. Slowly the ebb and flow effect became stronger, straightening the river and reclamation reinforced that process. Dikes had to be raised and widened until it was no longer possible. Some serious floods force the government to take measures: the Sigma plan.

At the Zennegat a cut off bend was created because the Dyle was straightened: an old Dyle arm. Natuurpunt set up a project around this. Meanwhile, the Sigma works are underway and this entire area is becoming a controlled flood zone. Because by giving the river more space, the peaks of the high tide are flattened at high tide. A protection against flooding. On the Oude Dijlearm, the floodwater will flow in through large pipes twice a day, creating a mudflat and salt marsh area. For water and marsh birds this will be a beautiful nature reserve. We are looking forward to it!

Den Battelaer itself is a great collaboration between a nature association and a government. The OCMW of Mechelen gave the plots in Den Battelaer to Natuurpunt in management. Together with other nature reserves, they are realizing a green belt around Mechelen. source: Natuurpunt vzw

Departure & arrival: parking De Zennehoeve, Hooidonkstraat, 109, 2801 HEFFEN