Scheldt

The Scheldt is a Franco-Belgian river which has its source in France and crosses the border with Belgium after 104 km. 
There the Scheldt flows through Wallonia for a few kilometres and then through Flanders after about 30 km. 
The Scheldt is in Flanders the border between West Flanders and East Flanders and in the estuary also the border between Belgium and the Netherlands.

The estuary of the Scheldt in the Dutch province of Zeeland has shifted to the east as a result of siltation. 
Easter and the Western Scheldt were created by sea incursions. The Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt rivers form the common Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt Delta, although the Scheldt does not belong to the Rhine river system.
The city of Antwerp lies at the mouth of the Scheldt and is one of the largest ports in the world for large container ships. 
From Antwerp the Westerschelde runs for about 55-60 km up to the mouth of the North Sea. 

Antwerp lies at the mouth of a funnel. Historically, but still today, estuaries at rivers and ships offer better protection against storms than harbours located directly at the sea.  
Just like Hamburg and London in strategically good and protected places, Antwerp was able to develop over centuries as a port.

History
Since the Middle Ages, the Scheldt has played an important role in the development of Flanders, Brabant and Hainaut. 
The Scheldt was also the border between the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire.

Navigation on the Scheldt
The Schelde is navigable almost in its entirety.
Either from Cambrai as an independent canalized river or in the upper reaches as Canal de Saint Quentin, which is fed by the Scheldt.
The Canal de Saint Quentin connects the Scheldt and the Oise. 
The Oise in turn flows into the Seine at Conflans St. Honorine in the greater Paris area. Thus the canal represents an important connection route from Antwerp and Brussels to Paris (see also French canal system)