The best MTB trails around Stekene

give gas on a narrow lane

The creek area of Saleghem is more than the sum of its parts. The nature reserve consists of the Grote Saleghemgeul on one side, and the Sint-Jakobsgat and the Kieldrechtse Watergang on the other. This triumvirate of water creeks then flows into the Grote Geule in Kieldrecht. Each separately is beautiful, yes. But together they are magical. The succession of gently sloping banks, grassland and hay, rare birds and colourful flowers, rustling reeds and melancholic willows: it silences a person. It inspires awe for the magic of nature. And everyone can enjoy it – even wheelchair users, because there is a special wheelchair walk around the creek lakes. This is what waasland.be writes... and there is nothing to contradict it.

De Kouterwegel was the very first to win the Grage Weg Award, an initiative by the Province of Oost-Vlaanderen, which aims to reward inspiring slow roads that people not only use functionally, but which also invite an experience. De Kouterwegel is part of the Kaboutermolenpad, a special route that distinguishes itself through its pronounced experiential value, according to the award jury, an example of how slow roads can entice people to consciously choose a detour, purely for the sake of the experience. After all, a slow road is more than just a connection between two points. It is a place that stimulates one or more senses, that connects with the environment and that attracts users through its unique character. The Kaboutermolenpad - Kouterwegel succeeds in this, according to the jury, with flying colours. Along the path, playful gnome figures create wonder for young and old. Visitors can stop at a chapel that invites rest and connection, or enjoy a break at a nearby café. The unpaved path is simultaneously barrier-free and accessible to everyone, and is clearly signposted. The route winds through a varied and quiet landscape, where a rich palette of scents and colours constantly stimulates the senses. This is what can be read on pers.oost-vlaanderen.be... a recognisable report, but during my passage I thought: I hope that the prize money from the Grage Weg 2026 will be used to restore the gnome figures, which here and there are in considerable need of repair or beautification.

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 Wullebos is located on a former sand drift ridge and is 69 hectares in size. The name comes from "wulle", meaning "long-eared owl". The Abelebeek and Wullebosbeek streams run through the forest, both in a northerly direction. The Papdijk, built in 1691, also runs through the area. A checkerboard pattern of avenues is present both in the forest and in the agricultural area to its south. It indicates reclamation in the second half of the 18th century. The agricultural area was deforested in the course of the 19th century, preserving the checkerboard structure. The Baggaarthof is located in the area, around which numerous ghost stories circulate. source: Wikipedia

Beautiful cycle path between Hulst & Sint-Niklaas. Orchards alternate with meadows.

single track that requires concentration

Beautiful avenues in the Wullebos