Nature reserve De Vogel is a creek in the landscape near Huslt. The area is located between Hengstdijk and Lamswaarde.
Originally this was a side channel of the Saxhaven that ran from west to east, called the Saxvliet, which was the predecessor of the Hellegat, and from which the channel with the name Oude Haven still remains today. To the east, De Vogel changed into the Ingewordinghe, which continued to the now disappeared village of Namen.
Already in 1273, the Vogelkreek was dammed by the monks of the Abbey of Boudelo. Thus the Vogelpolder was created. During the inundations, which took place around 1585, the Vogelpolder also disappeared under water, although the dikes probably suffered little.
In 1615, the Vogel was diked again, for which purpose two dams were laid. The western dam was near the Vogelfort, just west of Hengstdijk, and the eastern one was near Roverberg, in line with the Kruisstraat, which ran through the Kruispolder. As early as 1646 there was talk of a bridge over the creek remnant, near Kuitaart. Since that time people speak of the Westvogelpolder (322 ha), west of Kuitaart, which is described in this entry, and the Oostvogelpolder. The Westvogelpolder consists for the most part of water, and that is the current creek.
De Vogel is largely owned by private individuals. The creek is best known as a fishing area and along the banks you will find many fishing pier houses. In 1971, a recreation area was also set up at Hengstdijk, called "De Vogel", with bungalows and the like.