Rupelmonde Creek hiking route
Extended route description
In the southern part of the Polders of Kruibeke, you'll walk successively through alder woodland forests and meadow bird habitat. Keep your eyes and ears open: beavers and deer shy away from the limelight.
Starting point Rupelmonde
The Rupelmonde Creek Route starts in Rupelmonde, at the Church of Our Lady. Of the Kruibeke sub-municipalities, Rupelmonde is the smallest in area, but with the highest population density, which it owes to a rich past as an urban area. Rupelmonde is best known as the birthplace of Gerardus De Creemer (1512-1594), also known as Mercator, who laid the foundations of modern cartography, and whose statue overlooks the market square today. The center of Rupelmonde borders the Scheldt at the mouth of the Rupel River, giving the otherwise quiet town a maritime feel.
Graventoren
In the 12th century, the counts of Flanders built a colossal moated castle in Rupelmonde to defend the Scheldt and the Rupel, which also served as a prison. In 1554, Mercator was imprisoned there, living on water and bread for seven months, after being accused of heresy. Over the centuries, the fortress has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. After the war with France in 1678, the building was finally razed to the ground. The building materials that could still be used were recovered by the local population, and were used among other things for the construction of Our Lady's Church. In 1817, a brick hunting pavilion with observation tower was built on the original site of the tower, and is known today as the Graventoren. In 1955, Lode Baekelmans and poet Bert Peleman set up a Scheldt and Mercator Museum here, which can still be visited. In the underpass - your feet might get wet - you can visit Mercator in his cell.
Getijdenmolen
The tidal mill in Rupelmonde has a rich history. As early as the 16th century, the ebb and flow of the tides powered a large water wheel here. The four heavy millstones ground wheat, rye and bark. In the Middle Ages, the tidal mill had significant economic importance, as did the Scheldt itself. The ship tolls collected here made a nice contribution to Rupelmonde's coffers. The mill has since been restored and is now listed as a protected monument. What's more, it's still operational, making a visit worthwhile.
Rupelmonde Nautical Centre
Until the end of the last century, shipbuilding flourished in Rupelmonde. Countless minesweepers, tankers, tugs and dredgers were launched into the water here. These days, the old slipway is the only remnant of the once thriving Chantier Naval de Rupelmonde shipyard, which shut down in 1995. The local non-profit organisation Tolerant didn't want to let this shipbuilding heritage go to waste and, together with the Kruibeke municipality, built a shed with a demonstration area. At the Rupelmonde Nautical Centre, you can see how old ships are restored and learn more about former Flemish and Zeeland shipbuilding industry. There are no set opening times, but admission is free whenever the gates are open.
Ringdijk
The newly constructed ring dike protects the residential areas of Kruibeke, Bazel and Rupelmonde and ensures that incoming Scheldt water remains within the limits of the controlled flood plain. The 6-kilometer-long water barrier also forms the boundary of the area. The ring dike was constructed from soil sourced from the former polders of Kruibeke, Bazel and Rupelmonde, the Scheldt, the excavation of the Deurganck dock and the excavation of the Ketenisse polder. An adjacent tarmac towpath invites cyclists away from all the traffic between Kruibeke, Bazel and Rupelmonde.
Coninckshofke
This 19th-century hunting pavilion was owned by the Waterschoot family of bankers, who used it as a country retreat during the summer. The family business went bankrupt in 1882 and the building and the garden full of fruit trees came into the hands of a Mr. Coninck, who immediately named it after himself. 40 years later, the pavilion changed hands again. Anna Van Raemdonck produced ointments and conserves there. Her ointment for boils was especially well-known in the area, although Anna made no secret of the fact that the remedy primarily consisted of cat fat. During the 1960s, Anna was forced to shut down her quack-operation following legal action.
Bazel-Hemiksem ferry
A ferry service across the Scheldt from Bazel to Hemiksem is mentioned as early as the 13th century. At the time, it was part of an important thoroughfare. Indeed, the priests at the Sint-Bernardus Abbey in Hemiksem owned properties in Bazel and the surrounding area. The Kallebeek ferry was subsequently used by residents of the surrounding communities to commute to and from firms across the Scheldt. Today it is especially popular with cycling tourists and hikers, who combine the crossing with a visit to the flood plain or Wissekerke Castle.
Rupelmonde Creek
Rupelmonde Creek was formed when a dike burst its banks in 1715. The polders flooded and the breach in the dike was not closed for three years. Today, the body of water covers nearly 10 hectares. During the adaptation works as part of the Scalluvia project, the creek was also given a new look. The banks were beveled and kept clear of human structures and exotic species. Indeed, the riparian zones are important as habitat and breeding grounds for numerous fish and bird species. Beavers now once again feel at home. The Scheldt marshes had always been a natural habitat for beavers, until they were wiped out in the mid-19th century.
Karpershuisje
At the edge of Rupelmonde Creek stands the Karperhuisje, one of the few structures that survived the adaptation works in the polders. The Karperhuisje was constructed from recycled materials. That's why it looks older than it actually is. The building dates from 1961.
5 wandelroutes langs verborgen plekjes
6 wandelroutes langs leuke picknickplekken
