Sint-Jozefstraat, 9140 Tielrode
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Preview waypointsBe guided by the Scheldt and cycle from the mud flats and salt marshes of Tielrode all the way to the Polders of Kruibeke. The Scheldt does not leave your side during this route!
Taverne 't Veer, the place to enjoy a fresh salad, a draught Trappist or another - sometimes exclusive - beer.
From the starting point, you cycle right through the pot polder of Tielrodebroek, which attracts quite a few waterfowl and wading birds. At the confluence of Scheldt and Durme lies Tielrodeschor, one of the few remaining freshwater salt marshes in our country.
Along the Scheldt between Temse and Steendorp, you go through Schouselbroek, an impressive polder area of 150 hectares. It was one of the first polder areas along the Scheldt River. Schouselbroek was converted into a controlled flood plain to buffer the water during extremely high tides. This was done as part of the Sigma Plan. Due to the ebb and flow, the nature reserve now consists of valuable mudflats and salt marshes.
The Scheldt village of Rupelmonde is best known as the birthplace of Gerardus De Creemer (1512-1594). He went through life known as Mercator and laid the foundation of modern cartography. At the Graventoren, a remnant of the former moated castle where Mercator was once imprisoned, a museum is dedicated to the man. There is also an old tidal mill close by. It was powered by the ebb and flow to grind wheat, rye and tree bark. The mill, now a protected monument, still works.
The Polders of Kruibeke form the largest floodplain in Flanders. The newly constructed trails lead you through a varied landscape of mudflats and salt marshes, alder thickets and meadow bird habitat. The area is an ideal habitat for numerous endangered plant and animal species. It is home to beavers and ospreys, amongst others.
Oudbroek-Schellandpolder was established as a Sigma area. That is to say, during storm tides, the polder buffers the water to protect the residential areas behind it. Here, the poplar forests give way to natural swamp forests, with trees that like to have their feet in the water.
If you turn left at node 1 (Notelaerdreef), you will arrive at the d'Ursel Castle. For four centuries, it was the favourite summer haunt of the Duke of Ursel and his family. Since 1994, the castle estate has been owned by the Province of Antwerp. It hosts exhibitions, concerts and tours. You can stroll and picnic in the beautiful landscape garden of the castle, which for centuries was the country residence of the noble d'Ursel family.
If you turn left at node 1 (Notelaerdreef), you will arrive at the Provinciaal Groendomein d'Ursel. For four centuries, it was the favourite summer haunt of the Duke of Ursel and his family. Since 1994, the castle estate has been owned by the Province of Antwerp. It hosts exhibitions, concerts and tours. You can stroll and picnic in the beautiful landscape garden of the castle, which for centuries was the country residence of the noble d'Ursel family.
It does not take much imagination for Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde's neo-Renaissance castle to conjure up images of valiant knights and brave damsels. With its coach house with 40 old carriages, this fairytale moated castle is an authentic Loire castle in Flanders.
Since the 1970s, the Hammebrug over the Durme has been known in Flanders as the 'Mirabrug', after the film 'Mira' with Willeke van Ammelrooy and Jan Decleir. Today it is a protected monument and only cyclists and pedestrians are permitted to cross it.