Once, Oost Zeeuws Vlaanderen was a wet and marshy landscape cut through by countless creeks, where the sea and the Scheldt had free rein and the land changed with every tide. During the Eighty Years' War, this region became the scene of intense battles between Dutch and Spanish forces, with large areas deliberately flooded. Many of today's creeks and channels originated in that turbulent period, serving as quiet witnesses to a time when water was used as a weapon.

Today, the region forms a mosaic of historic creek remnants, expansive farmland, mixed forests and the rugged Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe. Without beaches and dunes, tourism remains more small scale than along the coast of West Zeeuws Vlaanderen, allowing for a greater sense of tranquility. At the same time, the fortified town of Hulst, Burgundian villages and distinctive delta nature give the route its own unique character.