Blankenbergse Vaart

Blankenbergse Vaart

Highlight • River

Blankenbergse Vaart

Cycling

4.9

(182)

Road cycling

5.0

(2)

Gravel riding

5.0

(1)

Mountain biking

5.0

(1)

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Location: Blankenberge, Bruges, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

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Tips

Claudine en Robert🇧🇪🚴

September 26, 2023

Cycling

The story of dikes and drainage canals is linked to the reclamation of the coastal plain north of Bruges. Dikes protect against incoming water from the sea. Drainage channels protect against flooding from inland by draining excess rainwater. One of the important drainage channels in the coastal plain around Bruges is the Blankenbergse vaart, a 12 kilometer long waterway between Bruges and Blankenberge. The network of smaller canals and ditches drains the water to this central drainage canal, which in turn leads the water to the sea.

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

May 21, 2024

Cycling

The Blankenbergse Vaart is one of the drainage canals of the Nieuwe Polder van Blankenberge, which runs from the Bruges district of Sint-Pieters-op-den-Dijk via Meetkerke and Zuienkerke to Blankenberge, where it flows into the marina.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, this canal was still used for transport purposes, but eventually this turned out to be unprofitable due to improved roads.

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

August 18, 2026

Cycling

This watercourse, the Blankenbergse Vaart, was already dug in the 14th century to drain the polders. Today, it is the ecological lifeline of the Uitkerkse Polder. The salty water provides unique coastal flora that you won't find anywhere else so deep inland. Keep your binoculars at the ready and scan the reed beds: this is the favourite hunting ground of the rare marsh harrier and numerous unique heron species. A wonderfully soothing and photogenic polder scene!

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