Discover Sint-Gillis-Waas: Culture, Forest and Nature

Sint-Gillis-Waas combines varied landscapes with distinctive cultural heritage and special places to visit. The municipality brings together forests, orchards and polder landscapes. This makes it suitable for trip planning that leaves room for nature experiences, history, regional products and other discoveries side by side. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider whether you would prefer to focus on forest paths, cultural sightseeing or culinary stops.

Forest Landscape and Paths Through Stropersbos

Stropersbos covers 478 hectares and extends across the municipalities of Sint-Gillis-Waas and Stekene. The landscape includes deciduous and coniferous forest, small-scale fields and nutrient-poor grasslands. Those who enjoy spending time outdoors while travelling will find a clear contrast here to the area's cultural attractions.

The Stropersbos walking route consists of two loops, each 4 kilometres long. They run mostly along unpaved forest paths and are fully signposted. The route length and the path surface are practical points to consider when planning your day. This allows you to take into account the importance of walks and hikes when choosing your accommodation, without having to combine nature experiences with a fixed programme.

The Fruit Route also adds a seasonal touch: it is at its most beautiful during the blossom period from April to early May. Orchards and the polder landscapes then shape another characteristic part of Sint-Gillis-Waas.

Cultural Heritage Featuring Railways, the Border and a Windmill

The Roomanmolen is a stone windmill used for grinding grain and pressing oil, built in 1847. At KLINGSPOOR, four themes of cultural heritage take centre stage: railways, clog-making, the border and nature. The site also contains a reconstruction of the Dodendraad from the First World War. These themes give the trip several perspectives and make Sint-Gillis-Waas interesting for visitors who want to learn about regional history through more than just dates.

In the centre of Sint-Gillis-Waas stands Sint-Egidiuskerk, a three-nave neo-Gothic church. For travellers interested in culture, it provides a notable building to add to a tour of the town. Those looking for a holiday apartment as a base for different kinds of holiday days can alternate between nature, local history and other sightseeing.

Fossils, Ice Cream and a Brewery Tour

Huis van de Evolutie displays fossils and artefacts up to 650 million years old, illustrating the evolution of life on Earth. Huis van de Evolutie can be visited by appointment.

A delicious addition is IJshoeve De Boey. There, artisanal ice cream is made from fresh Jersey milk from the polders of Sint-Gillis-Waas. There is an indoor seating area and a summer terrace where you can enjoy the ice cream. Brouwerij The Musketeers offers 45-minute brewery tours with tastings, including on Saturdays at 4 p.m. Groups of more than 10 people can book a guided tour at any time by appointment. This makes it possible to combine peaceful days in nature, culture and regional specialities when planning your trip.

Further Destinations for Orientation

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Sint-Gillis-Waas, you can also include Erpe-Mere, Temse, Sint-Niklaas, Wachtebeke, Stekene, Ghent, De Pinte and Zomergem in your further search.

For the higher-level travel overview: East Flanders.