Estrogens　are　contaminants　in　the　Scheldt　estuary　due　to　a　dense　population　and　intense　industrial　and　anthropogenic　activities,　but　their　levels　and　evolution　in　this　estuary　are　not　well　studied.　Here　we　investigated　estrogenic　activity　(EA)　in　the　dissolved,　particulate　and　sediment　compartments　of　the　estuary　using　the　Estrogen　Receptor　(ER)-Chemical　Activated　Luciferase　Gene　Expression　(CALUX)　bioassay,　in　recent　and　historical　samples.　EA　ranges　between　7–168,　2.16–22.5　and　1.8–38.2　pg　E2-equivalents　g−1　in　the　dissolved,　particulate　and　sediment　phases　of　the　Scheldt,　respectively.　The　partitioning　coefficient　(Kd)　between　the　particulate　and　dissolved　phases　is　about　2000　L　kg−1.　EA　levels　in　the　estuarine　sediments　decreased　during　the　last　40　years,　but　the　strongest　decrease,　from　112　to　28　pg　E2-equivalents　g−1,　is　observed　in　the　upper　estuary.　The　mass　loadings　of　dissolved　and　particulate　estrogens　discharged　into　the　North　Sea　amount　to　7.5　and　1.6　μg　s−1,　respectively.　Future　monitoring　of　the　estrogen　levels　in　various　compartments　of　the　Scheldt　is　necessary　considering　its　strong　environmental　impact　on　living　organisms　and　human　beings.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.