KALENDIJK WALK 4.8KM

Walking Dendermonde Kalendijk 4.8 km

The route is freely accessible to everyone throughout the year. It is NOT passable for wheelchairs and strollers.

The route is not signposted. You can only follow the course with Routeyou.

THE PONDS The waters or ponds that we still find on the Kalendijk are largely fish ponds. These ponds are remnants of the defensive ditches surrounding the city. A marsh or a pond, any body of water always adds a unique dimension to the landscape. It is the moment to daydream or take a look at what is moving in and on the water. Along certain waterbanks, we see a lot of water birds and natural vegetation.

In the Kalendijk area, we find ourselves in a park landscape with ponds. At the edge are marshes and hedgerows. These numerous biotopes offer an excellent opportunity to explore nature in all its diversity.

Along the Kalendijk, panels with nature information have been installed. We can enjoy the growth and flowering of summer oak, common ash, black alder, hazel, sallow, and spindle..

FEDERAL JUDICIAL POLICE In 2012, the Building Authority centralized the services of the federal judicial police and the coordination and support directorate of the then judicial district of Sint-Niklaas-Dendermonde-Aalst at one site at Kroonveldlaan 30 in Dendermonde.

Head of Franz Courtens relocated to De Volkswoningen, The gigantic head of the former Dendermondese painter Franz Courtens now adorns the lawn at the new offices of social housing company De Volkswoningen, at the corner of Kroonveldlaan and Pijnderslaan in Dendermonde.

MARSH Over the years, a marsh has developed here that transitions on one side into a moist hay meadow and is bordered on the other side by willow thickets. Besides the numerous plants that can be observed there, this marsh is extremely interesting due to the presence of the thick lizard snail (Vertigo antivertigo). This species is threatened with extinction in Belgium.

BIRTH FOREST The city council of Dendermonde is organizing the planting of a birth forest on the Kalendijk on Saturday. All Dendermonde parents who have a child born in 2007 or 2008 are expected at 10 am at Kalendijk at Leopold II Avenue.

BAT BUNKER The remnants of these fortifications are ideal places for bats to hibernate. Troglophile species of bats, which naturally hibernate in caves, can also do so in buildings. To the average layperson, bats are small creepy, fluttering creatures in the evening twilight; to society, they are very useful as insect killers.

BRUSSELPOORT Inner gate, identical to the Mechelsepoort and the vanished Gentsepoort. On the ravelin V-VI opposite the gate, there is still a bombproof powder magazine. Part of the ravelin, the ditches, and the outer gate disappeared with the construction of the viaduct (1933-1934) and the creation of the city park (1940-1941).

THE PARK The park area consists of two parts where you can walk freely. On one side of the viaduct, you will find the Daniël Schellekens park with the Brusselse Poort as a monumental entrance. The park's main attractions are a sundial and a bombproof vault.

On the other side, along Stationsstraat, lies the William Bruynincx park, which boasts the Ros Beiaard statue by Marc De Bruyn.

MECHELSEPOORT This inner gate in neoclassical style was one of the city gates. Perpendicular to this, we find the remnants of the outer gate with outer bridge. Along the disappeared ravelin of Bastion III, we see the remains of a bombproof powder magazine and shelter. The profile wall recalls the former railway line "Dender and Waes" (mid-19th century) that entered the city here.

Enjoy your walk Emiel Peeters