The
Western Scheldt in the province of
Zeeland in the southwestern
Netherlands, is the
estuary of the
Scheldt river. This river once had several estuaries, but the others are disconnected from the Scheldt, leaving the Westerschelde as its only direct way to the sea. It is an important shipping route to the
Port of Antwerp,
Belgium. Therefore, unlike the other sea arms, it is not closed by a dam as part of the
Delta Works. Instead, the dykes around it have been heightened and reinforced.