The Waaslandcross is raced at De Ster, a recreation domain in Sint-Niklaas, and in recent seasons it has closed the series in mid-February. The course is not one of the hardest, with sand sections, log barriers and one real climb up the slope of the amphitheatre, so gaps stay small and half a minute counts as a big lead. It began in the 2002–03 season as the Grand Prix De Ster, raced around 2 January, and Sven Nys holds the record with four wins, one more than Mathieu van der Poel. Niels Vandeputte has won the last two editions. In 2026 Michael Vanthourenhout started the final lap about ten seconds clear and reached the long finishing straight still ahead, but Vandeputte closed him down and passed him in the final 25 metres. As the last round of the series, it is one of the final chances to win before the season ends.