After seventeen years of bargaining, the water finally flows into the Hedwigepolder | NOW

The discussion on whether or not to depold the Hedwigepolders in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen lasted no less than seventeen years. The feud ended this week when the first water spilled over the land. But why did he haggle so much on that piece of land near the Belgian border?

“I am coming to see ‘my’ polder one more time,” says a Flemish woman, whose real name is Hedwige. She peeks past the Edvigepolder and sees a bird of prey and some geese and herons.

A little further on, excavators and other vehicles are at work in the polder. And behind again, large container ships sail across the Western Scheldt to the port of Antwerp.

At the beginning of this century, the port of Antwerp wanted to deepen the Western Scheldt. This deepening has already happened twice before. This allows larger ships, which are deeper in the water, to reach the port.

But such a deepening ensures that the water in the Western Scheldt flows faster. As a result, less food is left for birds such as curlew, red cat, black knight, and other waders. That is why in 2005 it was decided that the deepening of the Western Scheldt could continue if there was compensation for nature.

300 hectares of land had to be returned to the sea

Seventeen years ago it was agreed that the Hedwigepolder would be used as compensation. Nearly 300 hectares of agricultural land had to be returned to the sea.

Return agricultural land to the sea. This, according to Johan Robesin, is the focus of the discussion. The Zealanders don’t, he says.

Eighty-year-old Robesin protested against the depoldering of the Hedwigepolder right from the start. First in the background and then as a member of the Zeeland parliament, always in the foreground.

“It recalls the flood of 1953”

“Zealand is a true agricultural province. It owes its existence to farmers,” he says. “Farmers have taken care of the food supply. And for a long time farmers have also been concerned with water safety. Now this is a government job, but farmers have been fighting against water for a long time.”

According to Robesin, returning land to the sea is too reminiscent of the 1953 flood disaster. According to him, this is the reason for the fierce protest against the depoldering of the Hedwigepolder.

“At that time there was so much fighting to close the breached dams. And then the sea dam is now open with the greatest of ease,” he says fiercely.

The Edvigepolder when the dams had not yet been demolished.

Opponents have led several lawsuits on depoldering

The protests have led to severe delays in the project in recent years. Several cabinets have considered the matter. So the depoldering was out of the question and then it would continue again.

In recent years, a new discussion has emerged. Opponents feared that the water flowing in the Western Scheldt would poison the Hedwigepolder with PFAS (substances harmful to plants, animals and people).

It has led to several causes, including the State Council. Eventually, the highest court ruled that the plans could go ahead. And so this week the first water flowed into the Hedwigepolder.

This does not mean, however, that the old fields will soon have a low water level. It takes weeks for the sea to claim land. The excavators are now also engaged in the formation of the nature reserve.

Depoldering creates a nature reserve of over 4,000 hectares

When the depoldering of the Hedwigepolder is completed, it will form a nature reserve of over 4,000 hectares, together with the adjacent Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe and the Belgian Prosperpolder and Doelpolder.

At low tide it is partially dry. Waders and other birds can therefore find food there.

Robesin isn’t going to take a look. “I have no business there,” she says firmly.

Yet he does not ignore the former Hedwigepolder. He plans to start many other lawsuits. “I could say: now I’m eighty, the water just flows. But I’m certainly not resigned. I think this is the beginning of even more misery”.

Together with the Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe, the Hedwigepolder will soon form a huge nature reserve.