Around the creek

Departure and parking:

Camping De Rode Sluis

Dogs on a leash

Passage for
strollers and
wheelchair users is
very difficult due to the
many unevennesses.

Due to a rise in sea level, the Eastern Scheldt was formed during the time of the Romans.
Over the centuries, the sea level rose several times, causing many floods.
Dikes were raised and dams built.
But it wasn't until the 17th century that the polders were definitively restored through land reclamation. Thus,
the Grote Kreek and also the Pereboomsgat received their current character.

Along the banks, we find not only broad-leaved water plantain, water lily, duckweed, and yellow pond lily, but also
reed and bulrush. Further, we also encounter water sorrel, water buttercup, water couch, and marsh forget-me-not. Typical of the Grote Kreek are the remnants of a salt-loving
vegetation of blunt salt marsh grass, marsh salt grass, sea aster, and sea club rush. Other plants found here include: mouse-ear, flax-leaved toadflax, common tansy, wild thyme,
yellow star-of-Bethlehem...
There is a high fish population with, among others, reed bream, perch, pike, zander, bream, roach, and carp.
Also worth mentioning is the presence of crayfish. Alongside the common toad, we also encounter the brown frog. The hedgehog, mole, various species of rats and mice, as well as the water bat, the large-eared bat, the weasel, the stoat, and the pine marten can also be found at the Grote Kreek. Foxes are also regularly spotted. The dabchick, closely associated with the water,
is a breeding bird in the creek area. Also the mute swan, the wild duck, and the scaup.
The kestrel also breeds here. The grey heron often comes here to look for food.
Geese are typical polder visitors: the Canada goose, the barnacle goose, the greylag goose, and the Egyptian goose.
The buzzard, the sparrowhawk, the kestrel, and the tree falcon, as well as several owl species, are regularly seen. Sometimes even the brown harrier. Among the wading birds, the oystercatcher and
the lapwing are the most important. The intrusion of certain gulls into the interior is also noticeable here. In the reeds, the reed bunting still breeds.