Blankenbergse Vaart

The story of dikes and drainage canals is linked to the reclamation of the coastal plain north of Bruges. Dikes protect against incoming water from the sea. Drainage channels protect against flooding from inland by draining excess rainwater. One of the important drainage channels in the coastal plain around Bruges is the Blankenbergse vaart, a 12 kilometer long waterway between Bruges and Blankenberge. The network of smaller canals and ditches drains the water to this central drainage canal, which in turn leads the water to the sea.

The Blankenbergse Vaart is one of the drainage canals of the Nieuwe Polder van Blankenberge, which runs from the Bruges district of Sint-Pieters-op-den-Dijk via Meetkerke and Zuienkerke to Blankenberge, where it flows into the marina.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, this canal was still used for transport purposes, but eventually this turned out to be unprofitable due to improved roads.

Pretty corners of quiet nature where you can observe birds in their natural environment...nice spots for photographers