Bicycle route through land and air
Nieuws-Namen, Terneuzen
A real route for bird lovers! During this tour you will cycle through the vast polders and along the Westerschelde. In the beautiful nature reserves you will find unique bird species. Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is the perfect destination for anyone who wants to enjoy peace and nature. The Grote Putting is a popular area for migratory birds and is home to many breeding bird species. Bird-watching huts have been built here, where you have a beautiful view of the bluethroat and reed warbler, among others. Also in Margarethapolder you will find huts where you can spot birds. Here you will find both migratory and breeding birds. Between the reed beds you can spot the black-tailed godwit, the lapwing and the redshank. The Margarethapolder was reclaimed in the 17th century and the farmers named the polder after Saint Margaret. They believed that Margaret protected them. The Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe is not only the habitat of thousands of birds, but is also known as the largest brackish water salt marsh area in Europe. As the water constantly moves from high to low, the area is constantly changing. At low tide the area reveals vast mudflats and flats, while at high tide the salt marshes are flooded, providing ever-changing views and living conditions. In the Middle Ages, this area was a fertile polder where a lot of agricultural land could be found. There were several villages, including the village of Saeftinghe. In the 16th century, during the Eighty Years' War, a conflict began between the Dutch rebels and the Spanish Empire. To stop the Spanish troops, the States General of the Netherlands decided to inundate, or deliberately flood, parts of Zeeland and Flanders. In 1570 and 1584, the dikes were breached, flooding the area. Because of the inundations, the area became uninhabitable. But it didn't stop there. The All Saints Flood of 1570 was one of the most devastating disasters, permanently losing a large part of Saeftinghe to the sea. Subsequent storm surges, such as the St. Peter's Flood of 1651, further aggravated the situation, permanently turning the land into a mud and salt marsh area. The Drowned Land of Saeftinghe is now a protected nature reserve and a popular destination for nature and bird lovers and adventurers. The area is accessible only under the guidance of guides because of the high tides and marshy terrain. Visitors can participate in excursions and hikes that lead them through the area's rich history and diverse nature.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Plevierstraat 17, 4585 AL Hulst | 67.1 KM | |
|
From
12
to
13
|
4512 M | 4.5 KM | |
| Head east on Plevierstraat | 3.2 KM | ||
| Turn right | 54 M | ||
| Turn left onto Rijksweg | 18 M | ||
| Turn right onto Boudeloodijk | 12 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Boudeloodijk | 1.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 13 | 0 M | ||
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From
13
to
55
|
614 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head south on Boudeloodijk | 224 M | ||
| Turn left onto Boudeloodijk | 390 M | ||
| You are now at section 55 | 0 M | ||
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From
55
to
59
|
4423 M | 4.4 KM | |
| Head northeast on Boudeloodijk | 33 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Boudeloodijk | 285 M | ||
| Keep right onto Boudeloodijk | 919 M | ||
| Keep right onto Boudeloodijk | 108 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Roverbergsestraat | 35 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kruispolderseb | 2.8 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Duivenhoeksestraat | 196 M | ||
| Turn right onto Havenstraat | 48 M | ||
| Turn left onto Emmaweg | 34 M | ||
| You are now at section 59 | 0 M | ||
|
From
59
to
65
|
4303 M | 4.3 KM | |
| Head south on Emmaweg | 3.9 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Koninginnestraat | 406 M | ||
| You are now at section 65 | 0 M | ||
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From
65
to
66
|
2745 M | 2.7 KM | |
| Head northwest on Parallelweg | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Middelweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 66 | 0 M | ||
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From
66
to
67
|
436 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head northwest on Willem Hendrikstraat | 436 M | ||
| You are now at section 67 | 0 M | ||
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From
67
to
68
|
4076 M | 4.1 KM | |
| Head southwest on Oude Kaai | 338 M | ||
| Keep left onto Graauwsedijk | 1.5 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Oude Graauwsedijk | 629 M | ||
| Keep right onto Oude Graauwsedijk | 176 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Schenkeldijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Vitshoekdijk | 313 M | ||
| You are now at section 68 | 0 M | ||
|
From
68
to
14
|
1491 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head north on Vitshoekdijk | 486 M | ||
| Turn left onto Eeckenisseweg | 693 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Roverbergsedijk | 312 M | ||
| You are now at section 14 | 0 M | ||
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From
14
to
54
|
6683 M | 6.7 KM | |
| Head west on Hoefkensdijk | 463 M | ||
| Turn left onto Hoefkensdijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn right to stay on Hoefkensdijk | 1.2 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Vogeldijk | 1.7 KM | ||
| Turn right to stay on Vogeldijk | 1.9 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Kerkweg | 384 M | ||
| You are now at section 54 | 0 M | ||
|
From
54
to
15
|
1205 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head south on Vogelweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 15 | 0 M | ||
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From
15
to
44
|
2571 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head south on Rapenburg | 1.5 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Provincialeweg | 39 M | ||
| Turn right onto Sasdijkweg | 983 M | ||
| You are now at section 44 | 0 M | ||
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From
44
to
43
|
3072 M | 3.1 KM | |
| Head south on Sasdijk | 378 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Nieuwe Zeedijk | 1.7 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Reigersbossestraat | 1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 43 | 0 M | ||
|
From
43
to
74
|
7296 M | 7.3 KM | |
| Head southeast on Kijkuit | 725 M | ||
| Turn right onto Liniedijk | 2.2 KM | ||
| Turn left to stay on Liniedijk | 1.9 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Sint Maartenlaan | 176 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kanaalkade | 1.1 KM | ||
| Make a slight right onto Zuidsingel | 9 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Zuidsingel | 773 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zuidsingel (N686) | 411 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
|
From
74
to
71
|
1232 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head northwest on Buthdijk (N686) | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 71 | 0 M | ||
|
From
71
to
73
|
1079 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head north on Sasweg | 121 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Graaf Jansdijk | 958 M | ||
| You are now at section 73 | 0 M | ||
|
From
73
to
29
|
4221 M | 4.2 KM | |
| Head north on Graaf Jansdijk | 2 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Pootersdijk | 644 M | ||
| Continue straight | 6 M | ||
| Turn left | 1.5 KM | ||
| Continue onto Wielingenlaan | 52 M | ||
| You are now at section 29 | 0 M | ||
|
From
29
to
28
|
4368 M | 4.4 KM | |
| Head northwest on Wielingenlaan | 100 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Maassingel | 522 M | ||
| Continue straight | 157 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.3 KM | ||
| Turn right | 189 M | ||
| Continue onto Noteneeweg | 26 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Noteneeweg | 60 M | ||
| Turn right | 771 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Rooseveltlaan | 101 M | ||
| Continue straight | 231 M | ||
| Turn left | 14 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 392 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Laan van Othene | 195 M | ||
| Turn left onto Basaltpromenade | 94 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Basaltpromenade | 167 M | ||
| You are now at section 28 | 0 M | ||
|
From
28
to
70
|
1517 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head east | 1.4 KM | ||
| Make a slight right | 137 M | ||
| You are now at section 70 | 0 M | ||
|
From
70
to
40
|
1229 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head east | 182 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Margarethaweg | 1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 40 | 0 M | ||
|
From
40
to
10
|
5919 M | 5.9 KM | |
| Head northeast on Kleine Huissenspolderweg | 5.9 KM | ||
| You are now at section 10 | 0 M | ||
|
From
10
to
19
|
1862 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head east on Eendragtweg | 45 M | ||
| Turn right onto Rummersdijkstraat | 168 M | ||
| Keep left onto Rummersdijkstraat | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 19 | 0 M | ||
|
From
19
to
12
|
2284 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head south on Dijk van de Klein Hengstdijkpolder | 335 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zuiddijk | 866 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Zuiddijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 12 | 0 M |