The Borderland Path: walking in the border region

We walk the first stage of the Grenslandpad from Sluis to Aardenburg. Did you know that Aardenburg is the oldest town in Zeeland?

The first stage is 16.5 kilometres long in total. The walk is completely flat and goes on both paved, and unpaved roads. Whereby the unpaved roads predominate. No long stretches along through roads, but lovely walks along meadows and on polder roads.

We start the walk from the Kaai in Sluis, where a swimming competition is going on that day. We watch the swimmers for a while, but then it's really time to hit the road. We turn into the Jaagpad. The Jaagpad follows the Damse Vaart, which is the canal between the Belgian town of Bruges and Sluis. We walk out of town under a beautiful avenue of trees. You wouldn't immediately expect this when you're in a town like Sluis. This just goes to show how green the surroundings are here. After 500 metres, we immediately see the beautiful wide landscape that surrounds Sluis. We walk about 2.5 kilometres along the Damse Vaart canal. On this sunny day, we are not alone on the walking and cycling path along the Damse Vaart, a popular part of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. This is not without reason, as the walking here is wonderful.

After 2.5 kilometres, we encounter a nice change along the Damse Vaart canal. Indeed, we have to cross the Damse Vaart to continue our walk and do so in a very special way. We cross the Damse Vaart by means of a small ferry. By now we have also crossed the first border and we continue our walk through the Belgian polders. Note that several long-distance walks cross at the ferry and you keep following the correct route.

On the Grenslandpad, we really enjoy the peace and space. From then on, we don't encounter any other hikers on our route. For a moment, you imagine yourself alone in the border region. We walk along beautiful polder roads, over gravel paths, under beautiful tree-lined avenues and along meadows and grain fields. We pass the most beautiful houses, one more picturesque than the other. This stage of the Borderland trail never ceases to amaze us.

From a distance, we look at the various villages we encounter, such as the Belgian village of Lapscheure. The beautiful church tower of Lapscheure, with cows lying or grazing in the sun in front of it. A truly beautiful sight. And then when you are alone there for a moment, it is the ultimate moment of happiness.

This time of year, the field edges are in full bloom, with poppies and cornflowers. They move happily with the wind. Though this route has plenty of beauty to offer in every season. Imagine that in winter the Damse Vaart has frozen over and people are skating here. That must be a beautiful sight. Although then crossing becomes more challenging. Or when the Aardenburg ramparts take on their autumn colours.

We stop along a grass field for a drink. What silence you still experience here. The cows in the meadow next to us look up curiously. After this short stop, we set off again along the fields, back towards the Netherlands. At Heille, we cross the Belgian-Dutch border again. At this border crossing, you can still find an authentic border post. In a place where you totally don't expect it. In the middle of the polder, along a gravel path.

For a moment, I have one foot in the Netherlands and one in Belgium. Not a three-country point, but a two-country point. Border posts are well preserved in the region; you can still find them at many border crossings along the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen border with Belgium. You will recognise them by their white-and-black colours. Did you know that all border posts also have their own number? Number 1 is in Vaals, Limburg, and the last border post between the Netherlands and Belgium, number 369 is in Zeeuws Vlaanderen. At Heille, we pass border post number 354.

We walk on under the trees towards Aardenburg. We can already see Aardenburg from a distance. The church tower can be seen for miles around here too.

After some 15 kilometres, we arrive at the Schaapskooi just before Aardenburg. Here we stop for a drink. You can also go here for a delicious lunch. Until Aardenburg, you pass several eateries.

After our drink, we walk on towards Aardenburg. On entering Aardenburg, we first walk through the Elderschansbos. A total surprise for me. I had not expected this. Lovely to walk into town in the shade and through greenery. We continue walking towards the city centre through one of the most beautiful streets in the Netherlands, Herendreef. What beautiful houses and what green surroundings. Nature and city really come together here.

What immediately stands out is that Aardenburg is an old fortified town. The old town gate, the Kaaipoort, is still intact. Fortunately, the walk also goes this way and we can walk under it. After the gate, on your left, you'll find a beautiful mural. Aardenburg is therefore the oldest town in Zeeland and has a lot of history, which is reflected in the murals in Aardenburg. After admiring the town gate and taking in the informative signs about Aardenburg's history, we walk on towards the town ramparts. Again, this is a stunning piece of greenery in a place where you wouldn't expect it.

We walk on to Restaurant In den Wijngaard just outside Aardenburg. For us, this is the end point of the first stage. If you walk the second stage directly, I can recommend staying in Aardenburg. There are several hotels and bed and breakfasts in this lovely town, including the 6 Linden.

The route is well signposted. From Sluis, you follow the red/white road markings familiar from the GR routes. Note that some GR routes cross at the Damse Vaart canal, but these too are well signposted. So you can't really go wrong. By the way, we did bring a printed route, just in case. And because you are in the border region anyway, phone coverage is not always good. But this is what makes this region so special. So don't just rely on your phone to walk this route.

Sluis can be reached by public transport. There is a direct bus connection between Sluis and Bruges. If you do not want to walk the entire walk in one go, it is possible to take the bus from Aardenburg back to the starting point in Sluis. There is a bus stop at the Kaai in Aardenburg.

If you walk the second stage immediately after the first, it is also possible to spend the night in Aardenburg. Here you can choose from several hotels and bed and breakfasts. I am curious to see whether you will also discover this beautiful stage of the Grenslandpad.

Love,

Angelique