VLASSENBROEK 11.7KM

Vlassenbroek is a small village in the Belgian province of East Flanders. It is located in Baasrode, a district of Dendermonde. Vlassenbroek is situated in a diked area by a meander of the Scheldt, about 2.5 km northwest of the center of Baasrode.

Art, cafes, rolling dikes, and plenty of cycling and walking enjoyment. Vlassenbroek, the picturesque village nestled in the lap of Dendermonde, has it all. An ingenious compartmentalizing dike divides the 240-hectare area to prevent flood danger. Just take a look at the new natural layout and improved facilities, such as lookout points. They make the area completely irresistible.

In Vlassenbroek, near Dendermonde, we are working on a controlled flood area that will also provide 240 hectares of beautiful nature. By dividing the area into a northern and a southern part, two different types of river nature will develop. The ring dike around the northern part is already finished. We are still working on the dike around the southern part until the end of 2020.

The two ring dikes will ensure that the water does not rise beyond the flood area when the Scheldt floods during severe weather. We will finish the dikes with a towpath so you can come enjoy the stunning view by bike or on foot. You can already explore the northern ring dike, although there's still work to be done on that view – the development of tidal nature is a slow process.

The necessary preparations This coming year, we will start building sluices in the overflow dike along the Scheldt. These will direct the stormwater back to the river once the water level has dropped. In the north of Vlassenbroek, a combined inlet and outlet sluice will be created. It will allow river water to flow in and out every day, in sync with the tide. The water will shape mudflats and salt marshes here, which will eventually host willow flood forests and reedlands – typical tidal nature. In the south, we create another form of river nature: wetlands. Think of marsh forests and open water.

To give the development of that valuable nature every chance, we are already making preparations throughout the area. We are safely covering an old dump site and clearing the sand stock used for building the dikes.

Fishing and building Due to the construction of the flood area, several fishing ponds and the scout facilities of Baasrode had to relocate to a site just outside the ring dike near Broekkant. The scouts have already started building their new facilities there. The new fishing ponds were already put into use earlier this year.