Kruibeke: Polder Landscape, Nature Trails and Wissekerke Castle

Kruibeke combines an impressive polder landscape with varied walks, a nature trail for children and the historic Wissekerke Castle. Anyone planning a trip focused on nature, activity and cultural discoveries will find a range of options for planning their days here. The paths vary in length and landscape character, allowing you to choose excursions that suit the interests of your travel group.

Walks through the polders

The “Op stap met Xavier de Ree” route is a 4.8-kilometre playful and educational walk through the polders of Kruibeke. It is a specific idea for anyone looking to combine a shorter route with entertaining and informative elements. The 8.4-kilometre “Langs de Barbierbeek” route offers a different perspective. It leads through the northern part of the polders of Kruibeke, where the tides can act freely. Those who would like to discover another route option can choose the 7.3-kilometre “De Kruibeekse kreek” route, which leads through the central part of the polders of Kruibeke.

These three routes alone take different preferences into account: the route lengths range from 4.8 to 8.4 kilometres, while the areas described are spread across the northern and central parts of the polders. For your planning, it makes sense to compare the desired length and the landscape impression of each path in advance, rather than treating all the walks as similar excursions.

Tidal landscape and nature experience

The polders of Kruibeke have been recognised as a nature reserve since 2021. They include 300 hectares of tidal mudflats and marshland. A further 150 hectares of grassland provide a habitat for meadow birds, in addition to more than 150 hectares of forests and streams. These different landscape elements give the destination a distinct natural character: on the polder paths, it is not only the kilometres covered that matter, but also the transitions between open wetlands, grassland, forest and waterways.

Nature trail for families with children

The nature trail in the polders of Kruibeke is 4.8 kilometres long, starts at Wissekerke Castle and leads through the floodplain of the polders of Kruibeke. Along the trail, there are touch boxes containing antlers and the fur of a deer. There is also a beaver lodge in the embankment area of the ring dike on Blauwe Gaanweg, which children can climb through. The nature trail is free to access and is primarily aimed at families with children aged 4 to 12. This provides a clearly described option for an outing in which nature is not only observed but combined with additional activity stations.

Wissekerke Castle and unique water phenomena

Wissekerke Castle was home to the progressive Vilain XIIII family. At the same time, it is a robust moated castle on the Scheldt. Its historical identity adds a cultural accent to the natural experiences of the polders. The waterscape of Kruibeke is also home to the Waterval van Kruibeke: a fifty-metre-long waterfall at a sluice through which the Scheldt first flows into the polders of Kruibeke at full force during high water. It is precisely this contrast between the historic castle, tidal area and technically influenced water management that makes the landscape unusual.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

For a stay with children, the nature trail with its touch boxes and beaver lodge takes centre stage. Those who prefer longer walks can compare the three routes mentioned by length and the polder area described. For travellers interested in culture, Wissekerke Castle is a focal point in its own right.

In the immediate vicinity of the destination, the Bazel-Kallebeek reception and recreation area was completely renovated in December 2024. If you would like to compare Kruibeke with other places, you can find Stekene, Zele, Oudenaarde, Wetteren, Beveren, Moerbeke-Waas, Sint-Lievens-Houtem and Melle here.

For the overarching travel overview: East Flanders.