De Poelen, Former hamlet in Waadhoeke, Netherlands.
De Poelen is a former hamlet in Waadhoeke set across flat polder land with wide fields and drainage systems. The area remains dedicated to farming today, with ditches and channels maintaining the classic Dutch polder layout.
The settlement grew from early Dutch land reclamation when wetlands were converted to farmland through managed water systems. This transformation shaped the region for centuries and established the foundation for today's agricultural landscape.
The area shows how traditional and modern farming methods coexist in rural Dutch communities. Visitors can observe field layouts and water channels that reflect this blend of old and new practices.
This is now primarily an agricultural area with no residential center or typical village facilities to visit. Best explored in dry conditions since paths cross open farmland where mud can be present.
A polder mill here still operates as part of a larger drainage network with roots going back generations. This working machinery shows how Dutch water management techniques have been kept running across centuries.
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