The walk begins at the Mattemburgh Estate and goes through the Lindonk forest. You'll clearly notice the transition from sandy forests to clayey polders as the landscape begins to descend. You'll even walk through a sunken lane you'd only expect to find in South Limburg. As soon as you leave the estate's woods, the landscape opens up. You're now standing on the edge of the Markiezaat, the third-largest wetland in the Netherlands. Once an inlet of the Oosterschelde, this was transformed into a freshwater marsh after the construction of the Oesterdam, where nature is left to its own devices. The route takes a detour through the De Duintjes nature reserve before continuing along the edge of the area towards the Hildernisse farm. This monumental farm from the mid-18th century lies on the border of the Brabantse Wal. It is named after the village that once stood there, with 300 houses, a church, and a monastery. It was swept away by storm surges in the 16th century. Hoeve Hildernisse is a long-fronted farmhouse and, until the creation of the Markiezaatsmeer lake in 1984, it was the last farm outside the dike in the Netherlands.
The route continues towards the Markiezaat nature reserve. Here, you'll take a detour to the aptly named birdwatching hut, De Hildernissehut. This hut is strategically located on the edge of the Markiezaatsmeer lake. From the hut, you can look out over the mudflats and salt marshes where thousands of birds forage. The hut is a favorite among birdwatchers because there's a good chance of spotting the impressive white-tailed eagle hunting above the water. Spoonbills, avocets, and large flocks of ducks can also be admired here, depending on the tide and the season. So don't forget your binoculars!
After the detour, you'll soon reach the De Kraaijenberg visitor center. From the observation tower, you'll have a unique view of the entire area. To the east, you see the dense forests of the Brabantse Wal, to the west, the glistening sandbanks of the Markiezaatsmeer lake, and in clear weather, you can even see the outlines of the port of Antwerp and the Zeeland Bridge. At the edge of the Brabantse Wal, you continue to a section of the Mattemburgh Estate, where you walk along the Dubbele Dreef (Double Drive). These are two parallel avenues lined with stately old beech trees. During World War II, many trees were damaged by shrapnel and bullets. You can still see the scars. Through open meadows, you walk back to the mixed forests of the Mattenburgh estate, returning to your starting point.