Yerseke, Kruiningen, Krabbendijke

With only a 5-kilometre-wide strip of land between the Oosterschelde and Westerschelde, the municipality of Reimerswaal is one of the narrowest parts of the Zuid-Beveland peninsula. Use this cycle route to learn more about the Oosterschelde and Westerschelde and discover the most important differences.

The Oosterschelde and Westerschelde are branches of the Scheldt that have developed into their current form through natural processes and human intervention. This 360-kilometre-long river originates in the French municipality of Gouy. From northern France, the Scheldt flows through Belgium and eventually empties into the North Sea near the Netherlands. The oldest written mention of the river dates from 52 BC and comes from Julius Caesar, who called it Scaldis. There is some debate about the origin of this name: some linguists think it is derived from the Celtic kal (bright or brilliant), while others suspect a Germanic origin, with skald referring to shallow water or reeds.

The Scheldt has traditionally split into two branches at the hamlet of Bath: the Westerschelde and the Oosterschelde. Originally, the Oosterschelde was the most important waterway to the North Sea. The Westerschelde only gained a connection to the sea via the Honte in the 9th century. It was not until the end of the 15th century that the Westerschelde took over the role of main channel.

From the end of the 17th century, the first part of the Oosterschelde gradually silted up, making it sometimes possible to cross from Zuid-Beveland to Noord-Brabant on foot. Ultimately, it was the construction of the railway line between Vlissingen and Roosendaal that definitively connected Zuid-Beveland to the mainland, turning it into a peninsula. Thanks to the construction of the Kreekrak dam, the Scheldt water could no longer reach the Oosterschelde from 1867 onwards.

The water quality in the Oosterschelde quickly improved. When the Delta Works were constructed, the choice was ultimately made to construct a semi-open pier dam, which allowed some tidal action in the Oosterschelde to be maintained. The water is now salty everywhere, making the Eastern Scheldt an important breeding ground for various fish and shellfish. Since 2002, the area has had the status of National Park and plays an essential role in fishing and recreation. The aquatic life is so spectacular that it has even become a popular diving location.

And the Westerschelde? This has grown into one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with approximately 50,000 ship movements annually. The 95-kilometre waterway has an open connection to the North Sea and is an important shipping route between Antwerp and Vlissingen. Because the Westerschelde consists of a system of channels, sandbars, mud flats and salt marshes, it is not possible to navigate the entire width. The natural obstacles and tidal differences make it very entertaining to watch the large container ships manoeuvre. Unfortunately, the Westerschelde has become one of the most polluted waters in all of Europe due to polluted industrial water. Fish and seals have almost completely disappeared as a result. In the meantime, people are working hard to improve the water quality.

This premium route was compiled by our editor: Elwin Croeze