By the Kalkense Meersen

Between the village centers of Kalken, Overmere, Uitbergen, Schellebelle and Wetteren lies a lake area with a very rich natural value. With 800 ha of wet pasture, the Kalkense Meersen form one of the largest remains of the Scheldemeersen. Space, water, greenery and tranquility are the most important assets. In order to preserve the natural wealth, Natuurpunt has been building a nature reserve here since the early 90s.

1. Departure point is the ferry from Schellebelle, near the center. Just ring the bell and the ferryman will take you to the other side for free. Here you go directly to the left next to the Scheldt on the Aard. About 200 m further you step to the right, between the pollard willows down the dike, into the Blokstraat. The Blokstraat takes you barely a few steps further through the Kalkense Meersen, a unique and rare quiet green area, one of the few remaining East Flemish quiet areas. After about 1 km you ignore a dirt road on the right and a few hundred meters further you leave a muddy field road. Here lies the Oude Schelde, which formed the natural Scheldt loop until 1890. Then a large meander in the Scheldt was straightened and the original riverbed partially filled in and planted with poplars. In the reed collars you can find the bluethroat and the little karekite in summer. In the pollard willows, the collared redstart and the owl feel at home. Keep following the asphalt road. Half a km further it turns into a dirt road that after a few hundred meters gives way to a concrete road. After about 500 m you go to a crossroads to the left next to a row of canada poplars and another 350 m further (after a poplar grove on a bench) you take a narrow track diagonally to the right through the lawns. This path takes you after about 700 m to the Uitbergsestraat. Here to the left, direction village church of Kalken. Walkers with buggies and wheelchair users continue to follow the concrete road to the right at the crossroads and arrive at a large road after 350 m. To the left and 1 km further is the St. Denijs church.
2. The octagonal Romanesque tower of the St. Denis Church of Kalken dates from the 12th century. The rest of this three-aisled cruciform church was mainly built during the 15th and 16th centuries. The interesting and rich interior and furniture is mainly 17th century. After the church you go into the Vaartstraat, direction Wetteren (N407). After about 500 m there is a parking lot on the left. Beyond that, you immediately turn left, past a wooden structure that in better times served as a resting and shelter. Here is another information board. Walk there. Until the beginning of the 20th century, this was the swinging bowl of the Kalkense Vaart. It was dug in 1543 as a connection to the Scheldt and was used to supply eels from Dendermonde and Ghent mainly for fertilizing the grasslands. Since twenty years ago, a pumping station was installed on the canal, it has mainly served to keep the groundwater level in the lakes artificially low. The walk continues along the Kalkense Vaart. You regularly come across rest benches. Soon you will be able to see for miles again. The soggy lakes are the stopping place of numerous meadow birds such as godwit, ruff and snipe. Some even breed there. After 1.3 km, at the hexagonal sign of the 'Kruidenpad', take a narrow path to the right of the Oude Schelde. Walkers with buggies and wheelchair users go straight ahead next to the Kalkense Vaart and arrive at the drainage station after 1 km.
3. Follow the narrow path next to the Oude Schelde, with red/white marking. The path sometimes winds closer to, sometimes further away from the watercourse. After about a mile you come to a quadruple jump. Choose the sign 'Castle route' on the left. After 400 m you will arrive at the Oude Schelde again and continue to follow the 'Castle Route'. After more than 1 km you walk to the left next to a hawthorn hedge (still sign 'Castle Route') and 200 m further you choose left again. Soon you will come back to the Scheldedijk and turn left again. After about 2 km you have the drainage station below the dike and another 500 m further you are back at the ferry.