Damvallei

Damvallei is a nature area of more than one hundred hectares straddling the municipalities of Destelbergen and Laarne in East Flanders, Belgium, and forming part of Nationaal Park Scheldevallei. The site developed from the silting-up of former meanders of the river Scheldt, which gave rise to a low-lying peat landscape now bordered by wet meadows and reedbeds. The area sits at roughly 51.05°N, 3.82°E.

What makes Damvallei protected?

Damvallei is safeguarded as part of the European Natura 2000 network, within the designated site covering the Scheldt and Durme estuary from the Dutch border to Ghent. Management of the area is handled by the nature conservation organisation Natuurpunt vzw, which has carried out long-term restoration work to preserve the site's wetland habitats.

What kind of wildlife can visitors expect?

The area is known for its exceptional diversity of dragonflies and damselflies — a 2006 survey recorded twenty-eight species here, including several considered rare at a regional level. Damvallei is also home to around one hundred spider species, among them the heavily threatened marsh pajama spider. Its waters shelter rare and endangered fish such as the weatherfish and the bitterling.

Birdlife is one of the area's main draws. Overlooking the Damvalleimeer, the main body of water within the site, a bird hide gives visitors a view over the many ducks that overwinter there — a spectacle that becomes especially striking during frosty spells, when birds concentrate on the remaining unfrozen patches. From the same hide, ospreys can be observed from late April onward raising their young on purpose-built breeding platforms, while the resident cormorant colony grows larger every year.

How can visitors plan a walk through Damvallei?

Several marked walking routes cross the site, leading through flower-rich meadows and past the results of ongoing conservation management. The main route, the Bergenmeersenpad, is a 6-kilometre trail that can be shortened to 3 kilometres, starting near the town hall of Destelbergen along the N445 road. Two bird hides are positioned along the route, allowing visitors to watch wading birds on the shallow waters.

The area is freely accessible year-round, though only the stretch running alongside the Damvalleimeer is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended on the remaining paths, which can be wet and uneven.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Damvallei located? The area lies on the border between the municipalities of Destelbergen and Laarne in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, right next to Ghent.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the area is freely accessible to visitors throughout the year, with no admission charge.

When is the best time for birdwatching? In winter, when large numbers of ducks gather on the Damvalleimeer, and from late April, when ospreys raise their young on the breeding platforms.

Is the route suitable for families with strollers? Only the path along the Damvalleimeer is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers — the other paths require sturdy footwear.