The mystery of the Boerekreek

Between the reeds, where marsh harriers glide and the water softly ripples in the evening sun, a secret hides. The Boerekreek, a 39-hectare lake near Sint-Jan-in-Eremo, appears at first sight to be an idyllic place. Yet those who look closer sense that something stirs beneath the surface. For centuries, tales have circulated here about strange events, vanished villages, and even mysterious creatures. What is true, and what is not?

Two guides, Eddy Matthys and Geert Cocquyt, set out to unravel the mystery. Both are natural storytellers with a deep love for nature, history, and regional folklore. As guides and nature enthusiasts, they know this landscape like no one else. Their mission: to reveal the centuries-old secret of the Boerekreek, and at the same time show how rich this area is in nature, culture, and legends.

"Anyone who walks here," says Geert, "feels how history, nature, and stories form a single whole. The Boerekreek is not just a place. It is a book you read slowly, turning a page with every step."

Het mysterie van de Boerekreek; een gegidste wandeling vol verhalen

A story that lives on

The Boerekreek, like many creeks in the Zwin region, was shaped by storms and silting. Beneath its calm surface lie traces of former harbour settlements, vanished abbeys, and ancient peatlands. Yet that is only one layer of the story. Another lives in local memory: tales of eel fishermen, flax farmers, monks, and a mysterious creature said to lurk in the water.

For years, Eddy and Geert collected these stories, enriched them with old sources and their own observations, and turned them into a unique experience: “The Mystery of the Boerekreek”. An evening walk filled with suspense, discovery, and regional culture. During the walk, you literally step into their story. In the twilight, you follow a route along the water, solve riddles, and taste local delicacies.

“The fun part,” says Eddy, “is that participants do not just listen, they take part. They gather clues, uncover stories, and experience the Boerekreek with all their senses.”

Het mysterie van de Boerekreek; een gegidste wandeling vol verhalen

A landscape full of traces

Along the route, new stories reveal themselves one by one: tales of salt extraction, flax cultivation, and vanished abbeys. Stories of eel dyed red, once a symbol of prosperity and now a reminder of nature’s fragility. And of modern intruders like the American crayfish and Chinese mitten crab, species that disrupt the balance of the creek.

You also pass the Roman Catholic Church of Saint John the Baptist, a quiet witness to the region’s agricultural past. For centuries, agriculture was the lifeline of Sint-Jan-in-Eremo, and the church played a central role in that life. Around 24 June, the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, farmers and villagers processed here to receive a blessing with the Saint John relic. The pilgrimage was meant to protect crops and community from disease and misfortune. “Everything here is about connection,” Eddy says. “Between people and nature, between past and future. Agriculture shaped this landscape. And the landscape shapes the people who live here.”

Another notable stop is the Eel Experience Point. “The eel is a living story,” says Geert. “It travels thousands of kilometres, disappears into the ocean, and returns years later to this same creek.” For centuries, eel was caught and smoked here. Today the species is protected, yet it remains a symbol of resilience, just like the region itself.

The true story?

 

What secret lies hidden in these waters? Which stories are true, and which linger as legend? During the walk, you uncover only fragments of the answer. The rest… remains shrouded in mist a little longer.

“Some mysteries,” Geert says with a smile, “are not meant to be solved straight away. They are meant to be felt.”

Soon you can listen to our podcast: The Mystery of the Boerekreek, where Eddy and Geert guide you through the landscape, the stories, and the secrets that hide beneath the water’s surface.