The best walks and hikes in Groot Buitenschoor

The Ouden Doel Radar Tower is an eight-meter-high observation deck. The tower is freely accessible. On a clear day, the top offers a beautiful view of shipping traffic and the submerged land of Saeftinghe. This is a unique area where the tides have been freed up again (after the land reclamation), creating a unique landscape of mudflats and salt marshes.

Not facilities here. Especially on weekdays

Fan of cobblestones? Check out our Collection of ready-made cobblestone cycling routes, collected in the book “De Hel van het Zuiden”, downloadable for €9. You get 7 routes, with multiple distances. 25 GPXs in total! Of course incl. pre-fun via Komoot! You can find this section in the routes! https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/collection/2485043/-de-hel-van-het-zuiden-kasseien-routes-gids-e-book

Fan of cobblestones? Check out our Collection of ready-made cobblestone cycling routes, collected in the book “De Hel van het Zuiden”, downloadable for €9. You get 7 routes, with multiple distances. 25 GPXs in total! Of course incl. pre-fun via Komoot! You can find this section in the routes! https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/collection/2485043/-de-hel-van-het-zuiden-kasseien-routes-gids-e-book

The Hertogin Hedwigepolder was a reclaimed part of the Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe, a nature reserve in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, the Netherlands, between 1907 and 2022. A small part of the polder is located on Belgian territory. In 2005, it was decided to depolder the Hedwigepolder in order to restore the natural quality in the Western Scheldt. This decision was emotionally charged in Zeeland and Dutch politics, which caused it to be delayed. Depoldering began in October 2022.

Nowadays they are hardly in use in their original function, but are merely technical-historical monuments of a long tradition of craftsmanship: solely using the power of the wind as driving energy, the heavy millstones inside were moved and, for example, grains of grain were ground into flour (so-called grain mills ) or the oil is pressed from (e.g. olive) fruits (so-called oil mills). Occasionally - more on the Dutch coast, but also here at this "polder mill" in the former peat mining area - the function of the windmill was completely different: it pumped water to a higher level and thus served for drainage. These old windmills are the best proof that people centuries ago - long before the discovery of electricity and the resulting inventions - were clever enough to harness the power of the elements for their own purposes .

The Hedwigepolder is a piece of land in the far west of the province of Zeeland, Netherlands, bordering the Belgian border. This area has a fascinating history and has attracted attention due to an unlawful violation between the Netherlands and Belgium, known as the Hedwigepolder conflict. The origins of the Hedwigepolder go back to the Middle Ages, when dikes were constructed to protect the area against flooding. The land was reclaimed and developed for agriculture, mainly livestock and arable farming. The area became permanent after Saint Hedwig of Andechs, and the polder was given its name, the Hedwigepolder. However, the Hedwigepolder is best known for the Hedwigepolder conflict that started in 2005. It revolved around the agreements made in the Treaty of Maastricht in 1839. According to this treaty, the Netherlands had to reclaim and drain part of the Zwin, an estuary on the coast. . This is part of the creation of the Hedwigepolder. The problem arose when the Netherlands decided to flood the Hedwigepolder again in 2010 as part of an environmental project to restore the natural tidal function of the Western Scheldt. This decisive decision aroused fierce resistance from Belgium, because the water was contaminated with heavy metals and polluted. The Flemish government and other stakeholders in Belgium believed that the Netherlands should fulfill its obligations under the Maastricht Treaty and keep the polder dry. It moved to political and legal discussions between the Netherlands and Belgium, and it also attracted the attention of nature conservation organizations and environmental groups. An agreement was finally reached between the two countries in 2015, in which the Netherlands agreed to preserve the Hedwigepolder and eliminate the loss of natural values for the elderly. The Hedwigepolder remains a symbol of the complex relationship between economic interests, environmental protection and international agreements. The area itself has a long history and offers an interesting look at the challenges of managing coastal land and preserving delicate ecosystems in the Low Countries of Europe. It remains a reminder of the delicate balance between human activity and nature. #WandelTotaal

The Prosperpolder, located in East Flanders, Belgium, is an area with a rich history of land reclamation and a complex relationship between economic development and environmental protection. The origins of the Prosperpolder date back to the 17th century, when the process of land reclamation began. Land was created by diking the tidal river Scheldt. The purpose was twofold: the polder provided fertile agricultural land and strengthened protection against floods that often plagued the region. Over the centuries, the area was further developed and farms and villages emerged in the Prosperpolder. However, what makes the Prosperpolder really special is that it has a rich biodiversity. The area is home to several ecosystems, including wetlands and marshlands. This has made the polder an important component for migratory birds, waterfowl and other wildlife. It is a true paradise for nature lovers and mechanics who enjoy nature actively. Lately, the Prosperpolder has been involved in a controversy over economic expansion and environmental protection. Plans for the construction of a new tidal dock in the Scheldt, as part of the expansion of the port of Antwerp, have sparked debate. On the one hand, there are economic interests that want to benefit from the port development, while on the other hand, conservationists are concerned about the possible negative consequences for the unique ecosystems of the Prosperpolder. Managing the Prosperpolder is a challenge in which various government agencies and nature conservation organizations work together to find a balance between economic growth and environmental conservation. This complex balance between economy and environment has made the Prosperpolder a symbol of the sustainable struggle for the future of our natural and ecological diversity. The Prosperpolder is not only an area of ​​historical value, but also a breeding ground for discussion and action, with local people, policy makers and nature conservationists working together to determine what the future of this special piece of landscape will look like. It is a real challenge to balance the interests of the economy and the environment and to preserve the legacy of the Prosperpolder for future generations. #WandelTotaal