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Dieren en planten

Flatfish   Sole   Plaice   Geese   Greylag goose   Terns   Sandwich tern   Seals   Harbour seal   Food choice   Reproduction of harbour seals   

Water en land

Landforms   Coastal areas   Salt marshes   Biotope   Brackish water regions   Delta   Westerschelde   

Mens en Milieu

Shipping   Shipping routes   Nature policy   Natura 2000   

Westerschelde

The Westerschelde is presently the only direct route to the sea for the river Schelde. All shipping to the Port of Antwerp sails through this water. However, there were other options several hundred years ago, such as the Oosterschelde. The Westerschelde lies in southwestern Netherlands, between South Beveland and Walcheren in the north and Zeeuws Vlaanderen in the south. It has always been an important but dangerous waterway, due to the many sandbanks. The many shipwrecks are evidence of its past history.

  • Bird restaurant and nursery

    The Westerschelde is the largest multi-channel estuarium in Northwestern Europe. It contains tidal flats, salt marshes, sandbanks and shallow water areas, making it a vital tank station for hundreds of thousands of birds as well as an important nursery for many species of fish. The area has been designated as a Natura 2000 region.