The best traffic-free bike rides around Heidebos

Part of the F41

give gas on a narrow lane

Beautiful quiet surroundings route does not match hiking nodes in the last section, could not fully follow the hiking nodes route

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.

Here and there in Flanders, places of remembrance have been created in recent years, intended as spots that invite you to pause and reflect on a person you miss. What is characteristic of the place of remembrance that the municipality of Stekene created here in Tragelstraat is that it is specifically aimed at cherishing deceased children. The place originated in consultation with a group of parents who lost their child.

The former station of Klein-Sinaai was located on line 77, which ran from Sint-Gillis-Waas to Zelzate. In 1974, the Kemzeke - Moerbeke section was dismantled and shortly thereafter converted into an asphalted walking and cycling path, an early example, as recreational cycling was still relatively rare around 1980. In 1981, the former station was converted into the hamlet's post office and from 2011 onwards into a youth center, as is still the case. sources: Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed & Wikipedia

This open water (creek) is a remnant of a military inundation in the fight against the French in the War of the Spanish Succession - period 1701–1713. By breaching this dike, the polders behind it around Koewacht were flooded. When restoring the dike, they went around the deepest part of the stream channel.

An ideal stopping point on your cycling or hiking experience: Step back in time and discover a hidden piece of history: Fort Sint-Jacob. This fascinating remnant from the Eighty Years' War takes you back to a period when borders were still fought over and waterways made the difference between safety and danger. Located on the Passageule, this fort once formed a crucial link between the Spanish Netherlands and the States' territories. As part of the impressive States-Spanish Lines, Fort Sint-Jacob guarded the border and held back enemy infiltrations from the north. After the Peace of Münster, the fort lost its military function and slowly faded into obscurity. Nature took over, until around 2010 it was restored with care and respect for the past. Today, you can once again experience the contours of the past, including a replica of a cannon that symbolises the struggle that was once waged here. But Fort Sint-Jacob is more than just history. It is a place where peace and nature meet. The ramparts and moats now form a unique landscape where special plants and animals feel at home, typical of the brackish Zeeland area. Whether you are walking or cycling, this is an ideal place to pause, enjoy, and let yourself be carried away by the past. Let yourself be surprised and experience Fort Sint-Jacob for yourself.