The best running trails around Moerbeke

Nice single track to ride from Lokeren to Eksaarde and Moerbeke. Renting mountain bikes and guides is possible via Mobibikes in Lokeren

The Perenboomsgat is one of the creeks that is silting up to some extent, creating striking reed lands. The entire southern part of the horseshoe-shaped creek has silted up. In the northern part, there is still an open water section in the west, although strong silting is already occurring here too. Part of this creek remnant lies on Dutch territory, where the banks are managed naturally. The Grote Kreek and Pereboomsgat creeks contain little brackish water and therefore have a lower salt content than, for example, the Sint-Elooiskreek located slightly further west. Source: Inventory of Immovable Heritage

This is the 292nd of 369 (or 388 if you count the double posts on the Grensmaas as two each time ;-)) border posts. The 291st is slightly to the east on the Beukendreef/Oude Karnemelksstraat, and no. 293 is to the west, near the Kruisstraat & Provinciale Weg. Between posts 292 and 293 there are no fewer than 5 auxiliary border stones (292a to f). Furthermore, in the middle of the Perenboomskreek, below the waterline, there are wooden posts marking the border. Apparently, it has to be quite precise to the (centi)meter here. Discussion about where the border lies is clearly excluded here. A striking detail on post 292 is the somewhat strange design of the two 2's, as if they are reversed S's (see photos). source: grenspalen.one

The Maraîchine is a French beef cattle breed. The breed originates from – and is named after – the Marais Poitevin, the marshland on the Atlantic coast of the Vendée department in western France. The Maraîchine is known for its milk production and its adaptability to marshy areas. After the Second World War, the breed was threatened with extinction due to specialization in livestock farming. However, in the 1980s, the breed was saved by a group of friends and L'Institut de l'élevage; they rebuilt the population with the help of scattered animals. Thanks to the conservation program, the number of animals is now increasing again. source: Wikipedia

The numbers of the border posts on the Belgian-Dutch border run up from border post number 1 at the Drielandenpunt in Vaals, to 369 near Retranchement. Amusingly, neither the first nor the last post is actually on the border (the evolution of the Zwin estuary plays a role in the case of the last post). On almost all posts, the year 1843 is engraved. Only in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen are there 7 border posts with a later year, which were placed after land reclamation. The posts are made of cast iron and weigh 372 kilograms. Each post is equipped with the Belgian Lion on the Belgian side and the Dutch Lion with a sword and arrows on the other side. And each post has a number. The Belgian-Dutch border is 458 kilometers long. On average, the posts are therefore just over a kilometer apart. source: bestemmingbuitenlucht.nl/

A very beautiful piece of nature where hikers, mountain bikers, and gravel riders can have a great time.

The water feature De Konijnenputten is a creek near Axel and Koewacht that originated from historical sand extraction. The water is located in a wooded area managed by Staatsbosbeheer.

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.