The Flemish-Dutch Scheldt Delta is a unique cross-border estuary, an area where the tides of the North Sea push and pull on the course of the Scheldt, and where saltwater overflows into freshwater.
The Scheldt runs as a blue thread through the Geopark. Altogether, it is an area of 5,500 km², spread over 63 partner municipalities and with some 1,500,000 inhabitants. It stretches across the provinces of Zeeland and North Brabant in the Netherlands, and West Flanders, East Flanders and Antwerp in Belgium.
Those provinces are the initiators of this Unesco Global Geopark.
The Brabantse Wal area is particularly notable for its steepness, an abrupt transition from the higher sandy soils to the lower sea clay polders. Near Woensdrecht, the terrain on Hoogenberg climbs up to 39 metres above sea level.
FOREST, HEATHLAND, SHIFTING SANDS AND FENS
The Brabantse Wal shows a variety of forest areas, heathland, shifting sands and fens. Scattered across the area are stately country houses including the Mattemburg estate. More to the north are the remains of 16th-century defence lines such as Fort De Roovere, and later the Zuiderwaterlinie.
The land is known for its exceptional asparagus cultivation, a high-end ingredient for many regional dishes.
STEEP EDGE DUE TO EROSION
The steep edge, or the 'high edge' or 'hem' was created by erosion of the Scheldt. The connection with the Scheldt is clear due to the location of the late Pleistocene Scheldt at the foot of the Wall, which further eroded the escarpment causing important river dune complexes to appear on the high side of the Wall. After the climb, the landscape reverts to extensive polders.
FROM OSSENDRECHT TO STEENBERGEN
The Brabantse Wal is the western boundary of the higher Brabant sandy plateau. The area stretches from the far west of the province of North Brabant, across the Belgian border in the south, to the polder area around Steenbergen in the north. The escarpment runs from Ossendrecht past Hoogerheide, Woensdrecht, Bergen op Zoom and Halsteren to Steenbergen.
More information on Geopark Scheldt Delta can be found at :
