Wouwse plantation

As one of the last estates established in the Netherlands, the Wouwse Plantage has a history of more than four and a half centuries. During this period, the owners have managed to transform the Plantation from heath, as well as marsh and uncultivated land, into a magnificent forest landscape.

Located in the Dutch province of North Brabant, near Bergen op Zoom. Today, De Zoom is only important for water management and as an ecological connection zone.

De Zoom is 13.5 kilometers long and originates in Belgium as the Oude Moervaart on the north side of the Kalmthoutse Heide, in the peat area De Nol, and flows as the Spillebeek west of Essen to the Dutch border. In the Netherlands, it flows as De Zoom past Wouwse Plantage and empties into the Theodorushaven in Bergen op Zoom.

On September 17, 1529, during a meeting of Jan III van Glymes with industrialists, it was decided to extend the Moervaart to Essen with the promise that they would purchase this turf. Five hundred men were deployed for the work. The course around the city was redirected in 1530 to the northern moat (Noordvest) and the harbor canal where an anthoofd was constructed. The work on the canal lasted until 1580.

Water Line

In the period from 1583 to 1610, the function as a turf canal fell away because peat extraction was at a standstill due to military actions in the area. De Zoom then took on an important role in the West Brabant water line (completed in 1628). This defended the area around Bergen op Zoom through inundation.