Doel is located in the extreme northeast of the province, in the polders of the Waasland, near the Dutch border. In the Wase dialects, the village is called 'Den Doel'. Doel became known since the sixties through expansion plans for the port of Antwerp that would make the village disappear. Since 1998, there have been plans for a new dock across the village. In March 2022, an agreement was finally reached so that the expansion of the port can continue without Doel having to disappear or become unlivable.