Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (East) gravel ride Philippine to Saeftinghe

Route Description

I regularly visit family in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and normally head west to ride gravel in the more touristy part of the region (Sluis, Cadzand etc). But to be fair, the east is also really beautiful and has a nice calm vibe to it. I love to ride outside of the big dikes and watch the Westerschelde to breathe some salty air.

The route starts in Philippine, but you can easily start from anywhere else, for example from Terneuzen. From Terneuzen via Zaamslag you get to the first gravel patches before starting a long stretch on the outside of the great dikes in the Westerschelde delta. This goes on all the way to the natural reserve “het verdronken land van Saeftinghe”.

The natural reserve of Saeftinghe is known for salt marshes, gullies, and mudflats. This is Zeeland’s primeval landscape. A unique place with one of a kind nature and rich history. Next to Saeftinghe is the Hedwigepolder, where previously reclaimed and diked land has been returned to the sea and both nature and the sea are free to re-develop the land.

Via a very small peak into Belgium near the nuclear powerplant at Doel the route returns back home. Via Hulst and Axel you eventually cross the Canal from Terneuzen to Ghent and you’re on the home stretch. All in all the ride is beautiful and long. But it’s quite light on gravel. Just over 10% is unpaved so take this as a light gravel ride with some distance.

• Tip: Philippine is known for the town’s mussels recipe. When you start the route from Philippine, you might want to clean yourself up and go for a treat!
• Tip: You can easily include more gravel with parts of the Staats-Spaanse linies to make this a ride with over 100km