or Scheldt River French Escaut
River, western Europe.
The Schelde rises in northern France, flows through western Belgium to the city of Antwerp , turns northwest, and empties into the North Sea in Dutch territory after a course of 270 mi (435 km). Along with the lower Rhine and the Meuse rivers, it drains one of the world's most densely populated areas. A channel in the western Schelde allows oceangoing vessels to reach Antwerp at full tide.