Het Stort

Het Stort is a riverside nature reserve located in Weert, a village that forms part of the municipality of Bornem in Antwerp province, Belgium. The area lies directly on the bank of the river Scheldt, outside the flood dikes, and covers roughly 46 hectares.

What kind of place is this?

Het Stort is a classic example of a "schorre" — a salt marsh floodplain that regularly disappears under water during spring tides. Riverside landscapes of this type were once far more common along the Scheldt, but today they survive only in a handful of places, which makes Het Stort a valuable remnant of the river's natural floodplain environment.

The site is protected at European level as part of the Natura 2000 network, within the broader estuary area of the Scheldt and Durme rivers stretching from the Dutch border down to Ghent. That designation reflects the importance of the site for preserving biodiversity along the river valley.

What is the history of this site?

Until the 1950s, Het Stort had a working, economic role: osier willow was cultivated here for basket weaving. Traces of that use are still visible today, as several willow varieties typical of osier cultivation continue to grow on site, including common osier, yellow willow, pussy willow and almond willow. After basket-weaving activity ended, natural vegetation gradually took over the land, shaping the wild character the reserve has today.

Why is it worth visiting?

Het Stort sits within the wider Weert-Bornem quiet area, which has carried an official "stiltegebied" (quiet area) designation since 2010. It is one of the few places in the region where the only sounds are natural ones — wind moving through reeds, water lapping at the banks, and birdsong. For both local residents and visitors, that makes it a rare chance to experience a landscape free from everyday noise.

The reserve is popular with walkers. A well-known circular route starts in the village of Weert and passes through the basin of the Old Scheldt as well as along the present-day course of the river, with Het Stort forming a natural stop along the way. The walk can easily be combined with a visit to nearby Mechelen, making the area a convenient stopover for anyone exploring the wider Scheldt valley.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Het Stort located? The reserve lies on the bank of the Scheldt, within the village of Weert, part of the municipality of Bornem in Antwerp province.

How large is the area? Het Stort covers approximately 46 hectares of floodplain outside the flood dikes.

Is the site protected? Yes, it forms part of the Natura 2000 estuary area covering the Scheldt and Durme rivers.

What was the land used for in the past? Until the 1950s it was used to grow osier willow for basket weaving, and several willow species from that period still grow there.

Can visitors walk through the area? Yes, walking trails run through and around the site, including a route linking Weert with the Old Scheldt basin that can be combined with a trip to Mechelen.