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 | 36.4 KM | |
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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 | ||
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From
59
to
65
|
4304 M | 4.3 KM | |
| Head south on Emmaweg | 3.9 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Koninginnestraat | 407 M | ||
| You are now at section 65 | 0 M | ||
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From
65
to
64
|
2127 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head southwest on Koninginnestraat | 1.3 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Arenbergstraat | 838 M | ||
| You are now at section 64 | 0 M | ||
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From
64
to
63
|
1030 M | 1 KM | |
| Head southwest on Louisastraat | 1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 63 | 0 M | ||
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From
63
to
61
|
2075 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Kieldrechtse Molenstraat | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 61 | 0 M | ||
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From
61
to
51
|
3044 M | 3 KM | |
| Head southwest on Hoogestraat | 1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Kijkuitstraat | 93 M | ||
| Turn left onto Bietenweg | 1.9 KM | ||
| Continue straight | 6 M | ||
| You are now at section 51 | 0 M | ||
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From
51
to
52
|
2266 M | 2.3 KM | |
| Head west | 654 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 597 M | ||
| Turn right | 38 M | ||
| Turn left | 32 M | ||
| Turn left | 13 M | ||
| Turn right onto van der Maelstedeweg | 932 M | ||
| You are now at section 52 | 0 M | ||
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From
52
to
49
|
502 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head northwest on Stationsweg | 502 M | ||
| You are now at section 49 | 0 M | ||
|
From
49
to
47
|
727 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head northwest on Steenstraat | 364 M | ||
| Turn right onto Dubbele Poort | 92 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Godsplein | 21 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Tivoliweg | 244 M | ||
| Turn right onto Tivoliweg | 6 M | ||
| You are now at section 47 | 0 M | ||
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From
47
to
46
|
2121 M | 2.1 KM | |
| Head northwest on Tivoliweg | 579 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Oude Zoutdijk | 110 M | ||
| Turn left onto Parallelweg West | 589 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hulster Nieuwlanddijk | 843 M | ||
| You are now at section 46 | 0 M | ||
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From
46
to
45
|
1490 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head southwest on Havikdijk | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 45 | 0 M | ||
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From
45
to
44
|
2405 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head northwest on Havikdijk | 802 M | ||
| Turn left onto Klein Cambrondijk | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 44 | 0 M | ||
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From
44
to
15
|
2571 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head north on Sasdijkweg | 983 M | ||
| Turn left onto Provincialeweg | 39 M | ||
| Turn right onto Rapenburg | 12 M | ||
| Continue onto Rapenburg | 1.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 15 | 0 M | ||
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From
15
to
54
|
1206 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head northeast on Vogelweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 54 | 0 M | ||
|
From
54
to
12
|
1020 M | 1 KM | |
| Head north on Vogelweg | 1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 12 | 0 M |