Moervaart depression and coversand ridge

The formation of the Maldegem-Stekene cover sand ridge and the Moervaart depression at the end of the Weichsel pleniglacial is related to a reversal in the direction of flow of the Scheldt from the Flemish Valley to the breakthrough valley of Hoboken the wind during final phase of the Weichsel pleniglacial formed a contiguous series of parallel sand ridges with west-southwest-east-north-east orientation by reworking the existing sand plain. Between the cuesta of the Meetjesland and the Waasland Cuesta, a larger, almost contiguous sand ridge formed a natural dam, so to speak, across the largely filled Flemish Valley. This blocked northward drainage and created several, shallow lakes along the steep southern flanks of this sand ridge. The Moervaart Depression is a remnant of the most extensive and best studied of these lakes.

Forest and heathland development on the cover sand ridges led to the formation of soils unsuitable for agriculture. Deforestation led to a highly open heath and grass landscape on the cover sand ridges. Wetter areas, such as the Moervaart depression, were used less intensively and remained forested. The lower population density allowed restoration of the natural landscape, and a nearly continuous forest area emerged. Intensive reclamation of this landscape started fairly late in the Middle Ages under the impetus of the Flemish Counts. From the 13th century, abbeys also reclaimed the Moervaart depression. This was drained by canals and turned into pasture land. The peat canals transported peat that was mined for fuel. The abbeys' impact on land use diminished from the late 16th century. During the War of the Spanish Succession, the Bedmarlinie was constructed. In the second half of the 18th century, a new cultural landscape emerged. This cultural landscape remained fairly stable until WWII, after which improvements in agriculture, water management and habitation gradually changed the cultural landscape.