Kalkense Meersen, a region in East Flanders, Belgium, is characterized by its expansive, low-lying wet grasslands and intricate network of old Schelde river arms, ditches, and canals. This distinctive landscape, featuring reed beds, pools, and iconic pollard willows, is recognized as a Natura 2000 area. As a controlled flood plain, Kalkense Meersen offers wide-ranging views and a unique mosaic of hayfields and pastures, making it suitable for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, road cycling, mountain biking, and more.
127
Routes
4.3
(866)
Average rating
7976
People visited

4.2
(22)
105
riders
36.9km
02:11
60m
60m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(17)
344
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(9)
184
riders
48.9km
03:10
60m
60m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
116
riders
42.5km
02:58
140m
140m
Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.4
(153)
682
hikers
7.97km
02:00
10m
10m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(120)
525
hikers
14.6km
03:41
20m
20m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(152)
586
hikers
8.83km
02:14
10m
10m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(30)
147
hikers
6.97km
01:45
10m
10m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.4
(23)
212
riders
49.1km
03:12
180m
180m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(19)
257
riders
53.8km
03:16
100m
100m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.1
(8)
81
riders
35.9km
02:21
80m
80m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

5.0
(2)
31
riders
46.7km
03:10
250m
250m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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3.8
(9)
1,116
riders
33.4km
01:26
70m
70m
Moderate road ride. Great for any fitness level. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

75
riders
76.9km
03:39
400m
400m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.2
(5)
59
riders
42.6km
01:55
110m
110m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

66
riders
84.6km
03:47
100m
100m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(2)
55
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
31
runners
6.91km
00:43
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
51
runners
13.8km
01:29
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
30
runners
6.12km
00:38
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(4)
96
riders
57.5km
03:12
90m
90m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.3
(4)
45
riders
50.8km
02:53
80m
80m
Hard gravel ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.0
(1)
17
riders
69.0km
04:05
160m
160m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
8
riders
45.1km
02:36
230m
230m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Kalkense Meersen offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Touring cycling, Road cycling, Mountain biking, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The region features 38 routes across these sports. The community has explored the area extensively, with more than 249,000 visitors.
Kalkense Meersen provides a diverse network of hiking trails, from easy strolls to longer hikes through waterways and grasslands. Popular routes include the "Meandering Old Scheldt" loops, which range from about 5 to 9 miles (8 to 14.5 km). More options are available in the Hiking around Kalkense Meersen guide.
Yes, Kalkense Meersen has an extensive cycling network for touring, road, and mountain biking. Routes cater to different fitness levels, from easy, mostly paved surfaces to more challenging unpaved segments. The Cycling around Kalkense Meersen guide provides detailed information.
Yes, Kalkense Meersen offers easy hikes suitable for all skill levels and family-friendly options. These routes allow explorers to discover the intricate waterways and grasslands without significant difficulty. Specific easy routes can be found in the Easy hikes around Kalkense Meersen guide.
The region is characterized by expansive, low-lying wet grasslands, reed beds, and pools, intricately connected with the Schelde river. Iconic pollard willows are present near village centers, and an outlook platform at the junction of Tragelweg and Blokstraat provides unique views of the area. The "Oude Schelde" (Old Schelde) is a notable partially re-opened river meander.
Yes, Kalkense Meersen is a significant area for birdwatching, recognized as a Natura 2000 area. It is known as one of the last strongholds of the Black-tailed Godwit in Flanders, with around 30 breeding pairs annually. Over 220 native bird species have been observed here, attracted by the diverse wetland and grassland habitats.
Kalkense Meersen is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 249,000 visitors having explored the area. The routes in the region have received an average rating of 4.38 out of 5 stars from over 32,000 ratings. There are 38 routes available across various sports.
Komoot offers several guides for Kalkense Meersen, including Hiking around Kalkense Meersen, Family-friendly hikes around Kalkense Meersen, and Cycling around Kalkense Meersen. Guides for road cycling, mountain biking, and running are also available. These guides provide curated routes and information for different activities.
The region can be accessed via public transport, with specific routes available from bus stations. The Hikes from bus stations around Kalkense Meersen guide provides options for exploring the area without a car. A free ferry service across the Schelde, particularly at Schellebelle, also provides access to the Meersen.
An official website providing information and walking routes within the Kalkense Meersen is available at kalkense-meersen.be. For nature conservation information, the Natura 2000 area is managed by Natuurpunt, with details at natuupunt.be/natuurgebied.
While the region's extensive network of paths suggests opportunities for off-road cycling, specific challenging singletracks are not explicitly detailed. The MTB Trails around Kalkense Meersen guide offers routes suitable for mountain biking. The varied terrain includes both paved and unpaved segments.
The terrain in Kalkense Meersen primarily consists of expansive, low-lying, and often wet grasslands, with intricate networks of old Schelde river arms, ditches, and canals. The landscape is generally flat, making many trails accessible for various skill levels. Paths often traverse hayfields and pastures.

