Gezusterskreken

Gezusterskreken is a pair of intersecting waterways, the Grote Kil and Kleine Kil, located in the northern part of the municipality of Assenede in East Flanders, within the Meetjesland region of Belgium. A dam separates the two branches, carrying the Gezustersstraat road across it — which is where the combined name of the site comes from.

How did these creeks come to be?

These channels aren't natural in the strictest sense: they're remnants of former tidal gullies that were left behind once the surrounding polder land was drained and diked. The turning point came in 1612, when the Scheurhoekdijk was raised, enclosing the area now known as Sint-Albertpolder. Further polders followed in 1663 and 1690, and as a result the Scheurhoekdijk lost its role as the main line of sea defense — the water retreated further north. Today that historic dike marks the border between Belgium and the Netherlands, while the old tidal channels, cut off from the sea, remained as a network of inland creeks, Gezusterskreken among them.

Why is the area worth a visit?

The landscape around Gezusterskreken is classic Meetjesland polder country: flat, open fields threaded with ribbons of water, dikes, and small stands of trees. Wetlands of this kind, tucked into former coastal polders, tend to carry real ecological value, and this stretch is no exception — it's protected as part of the Natura 2000 network, covering both the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. Management is shared between nature conservation bodies and private landowners, a common arrangement in Belgian polder areas where conservation and agricultural land use sit side by side.

What else is nearby?

Gezusterskreken sits close to other creeks of the same tidal origin — the Rode Geul and Grote Geul, considered the largest in the region — while the Grote Kil and Kleine Kil extend the pattern further, together forming a broad mosaic of water and land. This combination of channels, dikes, and damp meadows draws birdwatchers as well as anyone simply looking for a quiet, open landscape away from built-up areas.

How best to explore it?

The area is best explored on foot or by bike: the flat terrain and network of local roads along the dikes make it well suited to long walks or cycling trips through Meetjesland. Spring and summer bring the most bird activity along the meadows and creek edges, though the landscape's core appeal — stillness, open space, sky reflected in water — holds up in any season.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Grote Kil and Kleine Kil? They're two branches of the same former tidal channel, separated by a dam that carries the Gezustersstraat — together they make up the Gezusterskreken complex.

Is the area protected? Yes, it forms part of the Natura 2000 network, covered by both the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive.

Where did the creeks come from? They're remnants of tidal channels that predate the diking of the polders, starting with the Scheurhoekdijk built in 1612.

Does the Scheurhoekdijk still serve as a sea defense? Not in its original role — after later polders were added in the 17th century it lost its function as the main line of sea defense, and today it marks the Belgium-Netherlands border.