Between nature and humans

Tropical sea to ice age

About 30 million years ago, the site of the Scheldt estuary was a shallow, tropical sea. Shark teeth from that time still wash up on the beaches of Nieuwvliet-bad, Ritthem and the Kaloot. After the sea retreated, some 3 to 2.5 million years ago, a coastal plain emerged into which rivers flowed. Traces of this coast can still be found in Nieuw-Namen/Kieldrecht near the Meester van der Heijden quarry. The river deposits are found in the Brabant Escarpment.

In the penultimate ice age, 280,000 to 130,000 years ago, the predecessor of the Scheldt created a deep valley system north of present-day Ghent: the Flemish Valley. This was later largely filled in and is now a low, flat and sandy area. As a result of erosion by the river, the northern side of the Flemish Valley eroded strongly, creating a landscape there with asymmetrical relief: the Oedelem-Zomergem Cuesta in Meetjesland, the Waasland cuesta and the Boom cuesta.

During the ice ages, the sea level dropped because water was stored in the ice caps. In the coldest part of the last ice age, about 18,000 years ago, the North Sea was even completely dry. From this plain, powerful winds carried sand, creating elongated blanket sand ridges.

 

Kaloot - Van tropische zee tot Schelde

Coastal area

Due to the melting ice caps, the North Sea basin began to fill up again starting about 10,000 years ago. The coastal plain became wetter and peat bogs formed. As a result of continued sea level rise, the sea penetrated the area through gullies and drowned the peat bogs. When the sea level rise decreased from about 3700 B.C., mud flats and salt marshes developed in large parts of Zeeland. Along the coastal zone, sand barriers were formed that began to seal off the area behind them. On the sand barriers, the first dunes developed. Starting around 3000 B.C., the sea brought in a lot of sand, causing the sand barriers to grow. The area behind the sand barriers swelled. Here peat formation took place on a large scale.

Due to intrusions by the sea and drainage in Roman times, tidal creeks were formed in the peat landscape behind the old dunes from 300 AD. As a result, the peat area was washed away or covered with a layer of clay. This gave Zeeland its characteristic island structure. The influence from the sea reached to where the higher sandy soils begin in the north of Flanders.

 

The Old Scheldt

Shortly before the end of the last ice age, the Scheldt, Rupel, Dender, Durme and Lys flowed via the Flemish Valley into the then still dry North Sea basin.

Due to the accretion of the cover sand ridge between Maldegem and Stekene, the Scheldt, into which the Durme also flowed, was forced to flow north through the breakthrough valley near Hoboken to the dry North Sea plain. In 2 million-year-old soil layers, the river scoured out a steep ridge, the Brabant Escarpment.

During the Late Glacial (15,500 to 11,500 years ago), the shallow and broadly spreading Scheldt changed into a strongly meandering river system with a lot of water discharge. A characteristic feature of the meander pattern is that the outside of the river bends erodes, while material is deposited on the inside. As a result, the river course gradually shifts toward the outside of the bends. On the inside, crescent-shaped embankments (meander-valley ridges) formed with depressions in between. Peat growth filled up most of the old channels. Especially between Ghent and Dendermonde, large Paleomeanders of the Scheldt have been preserved. The best recognizable are those in Berlare.

River dunes, also called donks, formed at several places along the Scheldt.

About 5400 to 4300 years B.C., the Scheldt west of bergen op Zoom made a connection to the sea, the beginning of the present Eastern Scheldt.

 

Scheldt Estuary

During the peat bog phase, the Scheldt turned into a relatively narrow river. But intrusions from the sea caused significant widening from about 300 A.D. Dan again. An estuary came into being.

Presumably no earlier than the eighth century, the Honte, a creek that flowed into the Scheldt in the eastern part of Zeeland, became connected with break-in channels from the North Sea and the forerunner of today's Western Scheldt came into being. From the fifteenth/seventeenth century, this became the main course of the Scheldt. With the new, shorter connection to the North Sea, tidal action became noticeable further upstream in the river. Sea level rise and reclamation later reinforced this process. Today, tidal action is still noticeable upstream from Vlissingen for about 160 kilometers.

The course of the river also changed upstream. At the beginning of the thirteenth century, the Scheldt shifted its course to the west near Weert; the main stream then separated from the Old Scheldt.

 

Human intervention

From Roman times onward, but especially from the Middle Ages onward, man began to leave his mark on the landscape. At the beginning of the twelfth century, Zeeland and the north of Flanders started with large-scale embankments, after local defensive dikes had already been constructed in Roman times (see also storyline Living with the water). Thus came into being old land polders, such as the polder Walcheren, the polder Schouwen and the wide Wateringen to the west and east of Yerseke, which were characterized by higher sandy creek ridges and lower pool soils. In later reclamations, mud flats and salt marshes were often diked against existing polders (washes) or tidal flats (washes). This is how loose islands in Zeeland became connected.

 

Discover and experience

You can read about the geological history at the quarries in this area, including the Meester Van der Heijden quarry in Nieuw Namen and Boudewijn quarry in Ossendrecht, both of which are geological monuments. In Rumst there is an information point about the origins of the Boom clay. The Drongengoedhoeve in Ursel explains the geological history of the Zomergem-Oedelem cuesta. You can experience the rich variety of nature in the area in the nature reserves and landscape parks, including the cross-border Zwin region, border park Groot-Saeftinghe and border park Kalmthoutse Heide. At Overmere-donk and Berlare Broek the old Scheldemeand formation can be recognized by the water lakes created after peat extraction that follow the old meander and by the bumpy pattern of the meander ridges. Between Bornem and Weert you will find an almost intact thirteenth-century Scheldt landscape with a strongly closed character. The Drowned Land of Saeftinghe gives an impression of the unimproved salt marshes and mud flats that once characterized Zeeland. Creek ridges are recognizable in the landscape of Walcheren. Creek remnants can be found as Zwin, Zwake, Schenge and Passageule, among others. The Kop van Schouwen is home to a vast dune landscape.

 

Type
Bezoekerscentrum Donkmeer een startpunt voor veel wandel- en fietsroutes

Donkmeer Visitor Centre

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Bolle akkers vlakbij Barbierbeek

Barbierbeek Valley

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Bolle akkers vlakbij Barbierbeek

Barbierbeekvallei

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Strandwal Walcheren

Beach ridge of Walcheren

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Bezoekerscentrum Donkmeer een startpunt voor veel wandel- en fietsroutes

Bezoekerscentrum Donkmeer

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Actieve winningsput Boomse klei

Boom Cuesta

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Luchtfoto Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe

Border park Groot Saeftinghe

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Wandelende mensen in Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide

Border park Kalmthoutse Heide

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Braakmanregio Kreken van Assenede

Braakman region

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Luchtfoto Braakmanregio

Braakmanregio

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Kalmthoutse heide Kriekelareduinen

Brabant Escarpment - Kalmthoutse Heide

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Kalmthoutse heide Kriekelareduinen

Brabantse Wal - Kalmthoutse Heide

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De Schelde bij Weert - zoetwaterschorren langs de Schelde

Brackish tidal marshes of the Scheldt

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De Schelde bij Weert - zoetwaterschorren langs de Schelde

Brakwaterschorren Zeeschelde

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Kustduinen Zuidwest Walcheren

Coastal dunes of southwest Walcheren

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Damse Vaart

Coversand area Sint Jansteen

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Hollandersgatkreek

Creek and coversand area Sint-Margriete - Aardenburg

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Kreekruggen en Poelgronden Walcheren

Creek ridges and pool grounds of Walcheren

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Actieve winningsput Boomse klei

Cuesta van Boom

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Maldegemveld, Drongengoedbos (gemaakt door Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen)

Cuesta van Oedelem-Zomergem

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Waterleidingbos bij Sint-Jansteen

Dekzandgebied St. Jansteen

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Brabantse Wal, Noordpolder

Dintelse Gorzen

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Brabantse Wal, Noordpolder

Dintelse Gorzen

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Drongengoedbos (gemaakt door Justine Bonne, Toerisme Oost-Vlaanderen)

Drongengoed Farm

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drongengoedhoeve dronebeeld

Drongengoedhoeve

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Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe

Drowned Land of Saeftinghe

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Verdonken-Zwarte-Polder_-West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen-slikken_-schorren-en-duingebied-direct-aan-zee-gemee.jpeg

Drowned Zwarte Polder

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Mottekasteel bij Terra Maris, Duingebied Oranjezon en de Manteling

Duingebieden Oranjezon en de Manteling

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Manteling-van-Walcheren

Dune complex Oranjezon and the Manteling

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Veerpont Tielrode-Hamme Durme Mirabrug

Durme Valley

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Veerpont Tielrode-Hamme Durme Mirabrug

Durmevallei

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Voormalige getijdengeulen (gemaakt door Bas van Oort)

East Flanders Creeks Area

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Oosterschelde - Stormvloedkering

Eastern Scheldt

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Bezoekers wandelen langs de getijdgeul Hammen in de gemeente Schouwen, Oosterschelde

Eastern Scheldt Week

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Bezoekers in de modder tijdens een excursie in het Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe

Excursie in het Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe

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De Schelde bij Weert - zoetwaterschorren langs de Schelde

Freshwater tidal area and polders of the Scheldt

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Tentoonstelling geheim van de cuesta Geopark Schelde Delta

Geheim van de cuesta

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Luchtfoto Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe (gemaakt door Marcelle Davidse)

Grenspark Groot Saeftinghe

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Wandelende mensen in Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide (gemaakt door Aart van Belzen)

Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide

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Speurtocht naar onderwaterleven tijdens de Grevelingenweek

Grevelingenweek

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Speurtocht naar onderwaterleven tijdens de Grevelingenweek

Grevelingenweek

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Collectie streekdracht in Het Warenhuis - Het museum over het land van Axel

Het Warenhuis

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Collectie streekdracht in Het Warenhuis - Het museum over het land van Axel

Het Warenhuis

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Zwin Bezoekerscentrum

Het Zwin Bezoekerscentrum

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Uitzicht op de Hooge Platen (Het Zeeuws Landschap)

Hooge Platen

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Uitzicht op de Hooge Platen (Het Zeeuws Landschap)

Hooge Platen

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Kleigroeve steengelaag

Kleigroeve Steengelaag

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Welen Zuid-Beveland

Kolk lakes Zuid-Beveland

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Kop van Schouwen

Kop van Schouwen

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Kop van Schouwen

Kop van Schouwen

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Kreekruggen en Poelgronden Walcheren

Kreekruggen en poelgronden Walcheren

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Hollandersgatkreek

Kreken- en dekzandgebied Sint-Margriete - Aardenburg

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Kustduinen Zuidwest Walcheren

Kustduinen Zuidwest Walcheren

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Uitzicht tussen bomen door op het Markiezaatsmeer

Markiezaat

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Uitzicht tussen bomen door op het Markiezaatsmeer

Markiezaat

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Meiduinen Groeve Boudewijn (gemaakt door Walter Jonkers)

Meiduinen & Groeve Boudewijn

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Meiduinen Groeve Boudewijn (gemaakt door Walter Jonkers)

Meiduinen & Groeve Boudewijn

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Tentoonstelling in het Mercatormuseum

Mercator Museum

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Tentoonstelling in het Mercatormuseum

Mercatormuseum

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Moervaartdepressie

Moervaart depression and coversand ridge

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Kanoën op de Moervaart (gemaakt door Machteld Bats)

Moervaartdepressie en dekzandrug

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Gevonden skelet tentoongesteld in het Museum Aardenburg

Museum Aardenburg

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Gevonden skelet tentoongesteld in het Museum Aardenburg

Museum Aardenburg

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Museum Hulst

Museum Hulst

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Voorkant van museum Hulst

Museum Hulst

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Bezoekers bekijken de tentoonstelling in het Museum Rupelklei

Museum Rupelklei

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Bezoekers bekijken de tentoonstelling in het Museum Rupelklei

Museum Rupelklei

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bezoekers bekijken de groeve

Nieuw-Namen

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bezoekers bekijken de groeve

Nieuw-Namen

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Maareberg Noordpolder (gemaakt door Piet Bout)

Noordpolder - Calfven

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Maareberg Noordpolder (gemaakt door Piet Bout)

Noordpolder - Calfven

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Drongengoedbos - Bos- en heidegebied op cuesta Oedelem-Zomergem

Oedelem-Zomergem Cuesta

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Voormalige getijdengeulen (gemaakt door Bas van Oort)

Oost-Vlaamse Krekengebied

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Oosterschelde - Stormvloedkering

Oosterschelde

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Bezoekers wandelen langs de getijdgeul Hammen in de gemeente Schouwen, Oosterschelde

Oosterscheldeweek

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Otheensekreek

Otheense kreek

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Otheensekreek

Otheense kreek

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De Poel, Hoeve vd Meulen bij 's-Heer Abtskerke

Oudland area de Poel

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Oudlandgebied de Putting

Oudland area De Putting

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De Poel, Hoeve vd Meulen bij 's-Heer Abtskerke

Oudlandgebied de Poel

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Oudlandgebied de Putting

Oudlandgebied De Putting

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Eendenkooi, Kalkense Meersen - Berlare Broek

Paleomeanders Kalkense Meersen and Berlare

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Eendenkooi, Kalkense Meersen - Berlare Broek

Paleomeanders Kalkense Meersen en Berlare

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Paleovallei van de Oude Kale (gemaakt door Jonas Vandecasteele - Toerisme Leiestreek)

Paleovallei Oude Kale

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Oude Kalevallei

Paleovalley of the Oude Kale

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Pluimpot

Pluimpot

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Pluimpot

Pluimpot

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Rupelmondse Kreek (gemaakt door Walter Jonkers)

Polders van Kruibeke

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Rupelmondse Kreek (gemaakt door Walter Jonkers)

Polders van Kruibeke

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Foto van Reizende Tentoonstelling

Reizende Tentoonstelling

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Zoetwaterschorren langs de Schelde - Rivierpark Scheldevallei (gemaakt door Arjen Hartog)

Rivierpark Scheldevallei

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Campagnebeeld Ronde van het Donkmeer

Ronde van het Donkmeer

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Streekgerechten uit de Rupelstreek

Rupel Valley

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Streekgerechten uit de Rupelstreek

Rupelvallei

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Zoetwaterschorren langs de Schelde - Rivierpark Scheldevallei (gemaakt door Arjen Hartog)

Scheldt Valley River Park

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Brabantse Wal, De Bunt - Pleistocene rivier-

Smalle Beek

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Brabantse Wal, De Bunt - Pleistocene rivier-

Smalle Beek Valley

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Kleigroeve steengelaag

Steengelaag clay quarry

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Strandwal Walcheren

Strandwal Walcheren

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Museum voor Natuur en Landschap Terra Maris

Terra Maris

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Museum voor Natuur en Landschap Terra Maris

Terra Maris

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tijdgravers onderzoek

Tijdgravers

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Veerse Meer

Veerse Meer and Schenge

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Veerse Meer

Veerse Meer en Schenge

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Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe

Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe

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Verdonken-Zwarte-Polder_-West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen-slikken_-schorren-en-duingebied-direct-aan-zee-gemee.jpeg

Verdronken Zwarte Polder

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Luchtfoto Kop van Schouwen (Sky Pictures)

Vroon grounds and Verklikker dunes

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Luchtfoto Kop van Schouwen (Sky Pictures)

Vroongronden en Verklikkerduinen

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Uitzicht tussen Elversele en Temse

Waasland Cuesta

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Waasland Kreken van Saleghem

Waasland Scheldt Polders

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Uitzicht tussen Elversele en Temse

Wase Cuesta

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Wase Scheldepolders - Koningsdijk Staats-Spaanse Linies

Wase Scheldepolders

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Uitzichtpunt Watertoren Rumst

Water Tower Rumst

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Uitzichtpunt Watertoren Rumst

Watertoren Rumst

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Fietsers langs de kustlijn in de Zwinstreek

Week van de Zwinstreek

Het Zwin
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Welen Zuid-Beveland

Welen Zuid-Beveland

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Westerschelde

Western Scheldt

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Westerschelde

Westerschelde

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Yerseke Moer

Yerseke and Kapelse Moer

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Yerseke Moer

Yerseke en Kapelse Moer

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De Schelde bij Weert - zoetwaterschorren langs de Schelde

Zoetwatergetijdengebied en polders Schelde

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Zuidkust Schouwen (gemaakt door Marcelle Davidse)

Zuidkust van Schouwen

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Zuidkust Schouwen (gemaakt door Marcelle Davidse)

Zuidkust van Schouwen

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Passageule

Zwin creek remnants and Passageule

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Hingene - kasteel d'Ursel

Zwin polders around Damme

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Zwin Bezoekerscentrum

Zwin Visitor Centre

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Passageule

Zwinkreeksrestanten en Passageule

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Relict Lieve en Lievebermen tussen Moerkerkebrug en Schipdonkvaart-Zuid

Zwinpolders rond Damme

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Fietsers langs de kustlijn in de Zwinstreek

Zwinweek

Het Zwin
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