Around Braakman Creek

De Braakman is a former estuary of the Westerschelde in ZeeuwsVlaanderen in the vicinity of Hoek en Biervliet, villages of the municipality of Terneuzen. The Braakman was created at the time as a result of the successive storm surges in the 14th and 15th centuries and has since been bogged down and/or reclaimed over time. The Braakman Creek is an open water that remained after the final diking of the Braakman in 1952 and, with an area of more than 200 ha, is nowadays mainly a recreational area. • Appointment at the parking lot (V) in BraakmanNoord. For the GPS in the car: Oost Zeedijk 2 in Biervliet. Along the Oost Zeedijk there is a signpost to the parking lot. Leave the car park heading south and turn left after 50 m. Pass a barrier and immediately after the barrier turn right, also towards the south, on a narrow path. This path takes you to the asphalt track after more than 600 m via a barrier. Walk to the right and after 100 m to the left in the grass verge next to the roadway. If you wish, you can also cross and turn left on the cycle path between the roadway and the N61 motorway. On the left is the campsite and the Holiday Park Marina Beach (1). • After half a kilometre, leave the entrance to the holiday park and continue on the cycle path. Soon you will walk along the Braakman creek with the highway at the top right. Once past the water, walk to the left on a gravel road under the dike (red and white GR signs). Where the Kreekweg bends to the right after 800 m (2), you step over the fence via a staircase and walk straight on the dike. On a sign you can read: Open to walkers, Entering at your own risk and Forbidden for dogs. This mainly means that you leave the cows alone and that the dog is unfortunately not allowed on this walk. Soon you have a wide view of the Braakman Creek. You can stay on top of the dike or take the path on the left under the dike. The numerous hawthorns turn a beautiful red in late summer and the blackberries taste sweet and juicy. After 600 m you step again at the bottom of the dike via a staircase over the fence. The path is then slightly less maintained, but you only have to follow the dike. The view of the Braakman Creek remains particularly beautiful. The industrial complex at the end is that of chemical giant Dow at the Braakmanhaven. • After another 600 m you have a beautifully situated picnic area at the bottom of the dike (3). Here you leave the walking path on the dike again via a staircase. Descend from the dike and turn left on the Lovenweg, under and along the dike, towards Sluisje. Half a kilometer further you have the mini campsite 't Sluisje on the right and a little further a riding school. The Lovenweg finally bends to the right along the Voorste Creek (4) and then begins to rise. Once at the top, walk to the left at the first opportunity and after a few meters to the left again, this time along the bike path. The bike path bends to the right and then to the left and soon you will walk again along the Braakman Creek. At the first opportunity, leave the bike path to the left, you enter a grazing area again. After 10 m, turn right and connect to the hiking trail (light green arrow). After 60 m and a barrier, turn left (GR signs and light green arrow). The walking/cycling path of paved gravel turns to the right after 500 m and after another 250 m you have a quiet picnic area at the top right (5). Continue to follow the paved gravel path. • After more than 800 m and some right-angled bends you come to a T-junction. Move left. After 4 more right-angled bends, the gravel road becomes a narrow asphalt track and 300 m further you are at junction 3 of the Zeeland cycling network (6). Walk to the left, direction Braakman-Noord and junction 21, now again on a gravel road. After more than a kilometer you will come to a 'collection orchard with old fruit varieties' and a picnic area (7). 100 m past the picnic area, turn right on a wide dirt road. After 500 m you come to a fork with a pole with signposts. Walk to the left towards the parking lot and junction 69. After 600 m at the T-junction, turn left and after a few hundred meters turn left again and you will be at the parking lot again.