SCHELDT, or SCHELD, (Fr. Ecaut, Lat. Scaldis), a river of the Netherlands, issues from a small lake in the French department of Aisne, flows in an irregular course mostly N.E., through the department of Nord; enters the kingdom of Belgium, and traverses the provinces of Hainaut and East Flanders. At Ghent, in the latter, it takes a sudden curve towards the east, and flowing between Antwerp and East Flanders, enters the Dutch territory below the city of Antwerp. Here it turns westwards, spreads itself out, and enters the sea by two broad estuaries; between which lie the islands of Walcheren and Beveland. Its whole length is about 200 miles, for nearly the whole of which it is navigable. Its principal affluents are the Haine, Dender, and Rupel, from the right; and the Scarpe and Lys from the left. Its commercial importance is very great, as it is connected by canals with the Somme, the Seine, and the Loire, while its estuaries communicate with the Meuse and Rhine, and lie directly opposite that of the Thames. In the lower part of its course the Scheldt is protected by dykes, as it traverses a very low and flat country.