Eendenkooi and Kooihuisje Donkmeer

On an island in the Donkmeer lies the Eendenkooi, the "duck cage", which dates back to 1678. Until shortly after 1930 it was used to store ducks that were caught on the Donkmeer for the kitchens of wealthy citizens.

Today the ducks are under nature protection and the "cage" is home to ducks, herons and storks. In this open-air museum you can learn about the history and workings of the cage, as well as the work of the "cage man". The square was recently supplemented by a petting zoo.

Check out the willow tunnel, a wildly dreamy place, or test your balance on the bridges over the water.

The redevelopment of the duck decoy is part of the Berlare Broek-Donkmeer nature development project. This project fits in with the vision of the Berlare municipal council to give the popular Donkmeer and its surroundings a contemporary look. The site of the duck decoy was given a thorough makeover. It was redeveloped with respect for the most vulnerable zones and remains open to the public.
(Public space database)

The small white building near the duck decoy, the cage house, was never a home, but the decoy man could warm himself by the fireplace, store his maintenance materials, temporarily store the captured ducks and possibly also spend the night in a sleeping alcove during a busy fishing period.This cage house burned down in 1995 and was rebuilt in 1997.
On an old picture card, depicted on the information board against the wall of the house, published around 1913, we see the cage man Sander Goossens with his dog at the then cage house.The huge poplar near this cage house served as a beacon in the landscape: this way, flying ducks that had previously stayed here could recognize this place from afar.Source: information board on site