| Official Name: | Watervliet |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Belgium |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Belgium |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name: |  |
| Subdivision Name1: | Flemish Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | East Flanders |
| Subdivision Name3: | Sint-Laureins |
| Area Total Km2: | 21.09 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Population Total: | 1,703 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
Watervliet is a village in the Belgian province of East Flanders and suburb of the town of Sint-Laureins. Watervliet is part of the Meetjesland,[2] and is adjacent to the Dutch border. It was a separate municipality until 1977.[3]
Watervliet started as a medieval village. In 1377, the village was lost in a flood. Around 1500, Hieronymus Lauweryn van Watervliet commissioned the poldering of the land, and rebuilt the village.[4] Even though Lauweryn was of common origins, he was awarded lordship of Watervliet by Philip the Handsome in 1507.[5] [6]
In 1501, the Our Lady-Church was built, and was consecrated in 1503.[7] Watervliet was planned to become a major harbour, hence the large size of the church. The church is commonly referred to as the "Cathedral of the North".[8] In 1977, the municipality merged into Sint-Laureins.[3]