Dessel-Schoten (Kempisch Kanaal) Canal is a small canal in Antwerp/Limburg province, Flanders, Belgium, covering 45 hectares (110 acres (45 ha)) of water. The water holds Carp, Bream, Roach, Tench, Pike, Perch — carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.
Night fishing is permitted at Dessel-Schoten (Kempisch Kanaal) Canal. Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Also known as Kempisch Kanaal. Running through the Kempen from Antwerp northeast towards Hasselt. Good carp and bream canal.. Regarding boats: Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation..
At just 142 miles from Calais, Dessel-Schoten (Kempisch Kanaal) Canal is one of the closest quality fishing venues to the UK. Flanders — a flat, canal-rich landscape within easy reach of the Channel Tunnel — makes an excellent short-break destination.
Night fishing is permitted at Dessel-Schoten (Kempisch Kanaal) Canal. Night fishing permitted with groot visverlof. Also known as Kempisch Kanaal. Running through the Kempen from Antwerp northeast towards Hasselt. Good carp and bream canal.
Boats: Boats are permitted at Dessel-Schoten (Kempisch Kanaal) Canal. Boats permitted on navigable waterways. Float tubes allowed. Stay clear of commercial navigation.
Permits required: Vlaams visverlof (groot visverlof, ~€14.50/year from Natuur en Bos) required for all Flemish public waterways. Buy online at natuurenbos.vlaanderen.be or at the post office. Valid 1 Jan–31 Dec. Klein visverlof (~€6/year) for daytime only, 1 rod, no lures. Some waters require additional local fishing club membership card.
Fishing in Flanders requires a VISpas (Flemish fishing permit, groot visverlof), available from Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. Night fishing permissions are built into site-specific rules — no separate night permit is required in Flanders.
Local authority: Agentschap Natuur en Bos (ANB) · www.visverlof.be
Dessel-Schoten (Kempisch Kanaal) Canal holds carp, bream, roach, tench, pike, perch. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers.
Join to unlock full rules, access notes and venue details for Dessel-Schoten (Kempisch Kanaal) Canal and all Belgium and Netherlands venues.
All year for most species on public waterways. Ecologically valuable waters: NO fishing 16 April–31 May (spawning). From 1 March–15 April in ecologically valuable waters: no bait fish or lures >2cm. Pike: closed 1 March–last Saturday April. Zander/Perch: closed 1 April–last Saturday April. Mandatory no-kill: Eel/Paling (full ban — immediate release). Waterlopen Zwalm and IJse: full mandatory no-kill all year, no bait fish.
Fishing in Flanders requires a VISpas (groot visverlof, ~€14.50/year) from Sportvisserij Vlaanderen. Buy online at sportvisserijvlaanderen.be before leaving the UK — no separate night permit is needed in Flanders as night fishing permissions are built into site-specific rules. Always carry your licence while fishing.
Dessel-Schoten (Kempisch Kanaal) Canal is 142 miles from Calais, around 3 hours from the Channel Tunnel. Always verify current rules on the individual venue page before your session.
Antwerp/Limburg is home to a number of public fishing venues accessible with a valid Belgian fishing permit. Use PiscaMaps to find all venues in Antwerp/Limburg and across Flanders.