The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Fondatie Van Boudelo

On an information board on site, the history of the Stekense Vaart can be read. It began as early as 1315. Count Robrecht III of Béthune then gave the order to dig a canal from Ghent to Hulst. In Stekene, this new 'waterway' turned marshes into arable land and increased export opportunities. In 1556, many fields in Stekene were submerged for a long time. King Philip II of Spain therefore granted a charter for a direct connection to the Durme. In 1628, King Philip IV gave permission to extend the Stekense Vaart by 1300 meters to Hulst. This connected the Vaart to the Westerschelde, which was advantageous for trade. Hulst could thus also be supplied with war materials. South of Moerbeke, between 1637 and 1643, a new canal was dug connecting the Stekense Vaart with the Moervaart. Ships sailing between Ghent and Stekene no longer had to make a detour via the Spelonckvaart. After the Eighty Years' War ended in 1648, the connection with the Westerschelde was broken. The economic benefit of the Vaart was lost. The Vaart was dammed at Tromp in 1691. In 1853, the municipality of Stekene became the owner of the Vaart on the condition that it also be responsible for maintenance. In 1950, the Vaart was declared unnavigable. Wastewater from Sint-Niklaas caused pollution and a strong stench, here at the Quay. In 1953, a cross dam was built in the Durme in Lokeren. The tidal effect on the Stekense Vaart was thus a thing of the past. In 1964, a water treatment plant was commissioned in Sint-Niklaas. This significantly improved the water quality in the Stekense Vaart. In 1995, a water treatment plant was also built in Stekene. In 1998, the area around the Vaart was classified as a quiet area.

The wooden arch bridge over the Stekense Vaart, named after Frans Coppens, was receiver-clerk in the municipality of Sinaai for almost a quarter of a century. He played an important role in "de Groote Watering van Sinay", the name given to the project launched by the Boerenbond in 1926. This project was initiated after repeated floods and aimed to make the polders 'dry'. The construction of the pumping station near Hondsnest was one of the first achievements within this project. During the Second World War, the unemployed were employed to clean or widen ditches. Under the impetus of dike reeve Jozef "meester" Maes and... receiver-clerk Frans Coppens (!), major reclamation works were carried out in the 60s, continuing into the following decades. Thus, Hondsnest got a new pumping station in 1975. In the meantime, the watering area had been converted into a polder, pursuant to the polder law of June 3, 1957. source: info file "Polder Daknam-Sinaai"

The lookout tower in the Fondatie van Boudelo nature reserve is a design by the young architectural firm Baeten Hylebos Architecten. The tower stands diagonally relative to the avenue amidst the undergrowth, a few meters from the path. In the Architecture Book Flanders N°14 (2021), it is poetically described as follows: In the doorway "light seeps in through the cracks of the planked walls and falls onto a staircase that winds invitingly around the central column. The walk upwards already offers, here and there, some perspectives on the surrounding natural beauty. For this purpose, the planks of the wall conveniently lie in a horizontal articulation. At the top of the stairs, the true reward awaits: an impressive tableau of fields, ponds, forests, birds, and if you're lucky, a leap of deer."

Between the Stekense Vaart and the Heimeersstraat in Stekene lies the nature reserve Heimeersen. The Heimeersen was part of a large inland lake thousands of years ago.

The pumping station at the Frans Coppens Bridge serves to pump excess water from the lower surrounding area into the canal.

It is well worth stopping on top of the bridge. The view from the Stekense Vaart looks like a landscape painting. The bridge is named after honorary citizen Frans Coppens from Klein-Sinaai. As receiver-clerk he made a great contribution in his career. The canal used to be an important connection between the Dutch Hulst and Ghent.

Beautiful and peaceful piece of nature.

The rest area is located in the quiet area on the border with Stekene, at a junction of cycling and walking routes. Seven benches, a picnic table, and seven Reynaert statues are now available. Seven Reynaert benches were installed, each featuring quotes from the epic poem. The benches were created by Van Dal woodworking company. The seven statues are by Gino Geeraerd, whose studio is located nearby.