Mariners didn’t care much for the irritating bends in the Scheldt on the border of West Flanders, East Flanders and Henegouwen. The journey had to be faster and so the river was straightened, the bends disappeared and the Scheldt was significantly shortened. With some help, the severed meanders gradually turned into a green and moist paradise, with flowery grasslands, reed beds and wood banks. It has become a delightful, open cycling landscape teeming with water-loving plants, fish, amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies, water birds, reed birds, and birds of prey. An ideal place for a picnic on the way, don’t you think?
