The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French l'Escaut) is a river that finds its origin in the north of France, enters Flanders and near Antwerp flows West into the Netherlands towards the North Sea. Originally there were two branches from that point: the Oosterschelde (Eastern Scheldt) and the Westerschelde (Western Scheldt) but the river was cut off from its eastern (actually: northern) branch by a dyke that connects Zuid-Beveland with the mainland (Brabant). Today the river therefore continues into the Westerschelde estuary only, passing Terneuzen to reach the North Sea between Cadzand in Zeeuws Vlaanderen and Vlissingen on Walcheren