In 1999, Flanders and the Netherlands agreed to set up a common strategy for managing the Scheldt estuary. In 2002, both parties signed a memorandum of understanding in which was defined a “Long Term Vision” strategy and its objectives. One of these is the preservation in the Western Scheldt of a dynamic flood and ebb channel network, the so-called “multi-channel system”. The present trend, a continuation of past natural morphological evolutions combined with human interference (land reclamation and polder building, dredging and other river works) may jeopardise this objective. An expert team appointed by the Antwerp Port Authority stated the need for morphological management, aiming at steering the estuarine morphology. In a first phase, sediment from dredging works could be used to reshape eroded sandbars where needed, in order for the flood and ebb flows to continue maintaining the multiple channels. Since 2002, this new disposal strategy is being investigated as a pilot project on the Walsoorden sandbar in the Western Scheldt. An extended research was conducted in 2002 and 2003, combining several tools: desk studies with maps on the historical morphological changes, field measurements, physical scale model tests and numerical models. As a result of the research work executed at Flanders Hydraulics Research, it was concluded that none of the results contradicted the feasibility of the new disposal strategy at the Walsoorden sandbar, although final judgement would only be possible after the execution of an in situ disposal test. At the end of 2004, 500.000 m 3 of sand was disposed during one month with a diffuser in relatively shallow water at the seaward end of the Walsoorden sandbar. The experiment was thoroughly monitored, morphological as well as ecological. One year after the execution of the in situ disposal test, it was concluded that from morphological viewpoint the test was a success. The ecological monitoring revealed no significant negative changes in trends due to the disposal test. In 2006 a new ...