Welcome to the landscapes of Mondriaan en Toorop.

Zeeland

Zeeland... Wonderland.Footsteps in the sand. Water at the shores. Distant noises. Seagulls that fly above the sea. Trees that sway in the wind. A wild running river. Delicious smells from the kitchen. The sultry warmth of the sun. Laughter and giggling. The colors of the fields. Silence, if you listen…It doesn’t matter in which direction you travel. Everywhere in Zeeland there are interesting things to see and to discover. Sea and land. It feels like a refreshing waterfall in the summer, like an island in the sea…

Just do whatever you want, whenever you want. Enjoy your time off, the sun and the wind and each other. Zeeland is always in motion, a land for all seasons. Come and be part of it.

Zeeland, one fascinating experience!

Through Zeeland you will find the traces of the past.

Living the past in the cities….Immersed in the atmosphere of our ancestors, tinged with an air of mystery and recognition, old towns and cities proudly display their past. Let the present wait and transport yourself back in time by visiting cities such as Zierikzee, Goes, Middelburg, Veere and Hulst, to name but a few. To know how a town lived and still lives, experience it for yourself. Wander, stroll, observe, enjoy, read, listen and realize that nothing and everything is for ever….

Zierikzee, Middelburg, Vlissingen and Veere have a rich VOC (United East-Indonesian Company) past. Their many monumental buildings and old constructions bear witness to this. In the thirteenth century, wool and textile trade was probably already the most important commercial activity in these regions. However, it was not until the seventeenth century that the trade fully blossomed. After the formation of the VOC, it all came together. These cities each had their own specialties and their own rights, from which they profited fully. The VOC was a national entity with regional ‘departments’. The West Indonesian Company, in spite of it also being national, was much more an initiative from Zeeland. It concentrated mainly on trade with the west coast of Africa, South America and the Caribbean.However, its prime route was the South African cape. Piet Heyn, who fought and defeated the Spanish ‘silver fleet’, became famous for this encounter, more so than for actual trade. More details on the side effects of the eighty-year war against Spain are to be seen and read in various books about Zeeland. A unique collection of tapestries on the parts of this war that took place at sea can be viewed in the Zeeuws Museum in Middelburg. In addition to this, maritime city exploration tours carry you off on many distant voyages.

The countryside, centuries have elapsed but history still lives on…

Various valuable remains from ages past have been preserved in Zeeland. Consider, for example, the beautiful villas and estates, which were often built at the beginning of the nineteenth century, the many hamlets with a large church in the centre, surrounded by characteristic old houses, or the various town halls and other official buildings. Places such as Dreischor, Brouwershaven, Tholen, Kats, Veere, Domburg, Nisse, Groede and St. Anna ter Muiden are gems waiting to be discovered.

Art is not limited by the passage of time. Remarkable paintings, moving creations, striking colors, subtle nuances… Time and again we are captivated by the work of exciting artists. There are numerous museums and galleries with ever-changing and surprising exhibitions, often of extremely high quality.

For example: In the Flood disaster museum in Ouwerkerk you can learn all about the flood disaster of 1953, and the eternal fight against the sea. Definitely a fascinating museum.

Or mayby you will bring a visit to The Zeeuwse Museum in Middelburg. Here you will find the greatest collection of Zeelands history in the world. The design of the museum is based on a shopping mall, with shop window displays, catwalks and filmscenography. This sheds a new light on old things.

Art and culture in motion…

The Zeeland Delta: Experience, taste and admire it

The unique interplay between sea and land on the Zeeland islands results in an unbelievable diversity in nature, as well as an abundance of recreational areas. The beautiful scenic areas offer fantastic cycling and walking options through the dunes, over the dikes, along the salt marshes and mud flats, or through the vast ‘polders’. Would you rather be on the water? Over 1/3 of the Zeeland Delta consists of water, which means excellent water sports options: surfing, sailing, diving, swimming, fishing, canoeing and much more. In Zeeland you can do it all!

In Zeeland you can trace the footsteps of history.

Impressive Delta works Zeeland is almost entirely under sea level. After various floods (the last one was in 1953) the Delta Works were constructed. The largest and most impressive project in the battle against water. There is a good reason why the Delta Works were once called the eighth wonder of the world. For example, the Haringvliet sluices in Stellendam are the largest in the world. Also imposing is the Oosterschelde Storm Surge Barrier, which is one of the largest constructions in the world. When you are on the Oosterschelde Storm Surge Barrier, a visit to the Deltapark Neeltje Jans is definitely worth your while!

Zeeland. Land of the delta. Water, wind and man created (and is still creating) a large variety of nature and landscapes. Woods, dunes, polders, creeks, dikes….The polders were first created by building dikes. The implementation of the Deltaplan brought new landscapes, both inside and outside the dikes. Along the banks of the Oosterschelde and the Westerschelde there are ‘schorren’, marshes covered with salt-water plants, which are

Nature and culture …a lively variation

waterlogged at high tide. Here, ‘lamsoren’ and ‘zeekraal’ are typical vegetables of the region. In Zuid-Beveland, Tholen and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen there are numerous ‘tree dikes’, where rare wild plants grow. Zeeuws-Vlaanderen has by far the largest number of creeks. Creeks were either formed by dikes, which closed off an inlet or by floods when a dike burst and the water broke through.

In Zuid-Beveland and Walcheren, the remains of ‘vliedber-gen’ (escape hills) are still to be seen. These are small man-made hills, which for centuries provided high ground to which people fled during floods. The first dikes were rather unstable constructions. In addition to this, they were used for defense. There are wooded areas at the Braakman in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, at De Manteling on Walcheren and at Westerschouwen on Schouwen-Duiveland. And finally, the dunes provide a home for many rare plants.

Did you know that the entire coastline of Zeeland is 300 kilometers long? And that 70 kilometers are North Sea beach? And that beaches are not only fun during the summer? Read this and be surprised…

Naturally, in the summer there are many sun attractions to be found on the beaches in Zeeland. There are beaches to fit every fancy: busy, cheerful beaches with lots of beach pavilions and playgrounds for the children, and peaceful beaches, with space to run and play, or to enjoy the sun quietly.In the autumn, when beach wear is once again neatly packed away, other forms of enjoyment begin on the coast; walking along the shore, sport or kite flying, dining in the beach restaurants and marveling at the spectacular sunset, to name but a few. There are often many sights worth visiting in and around the resort towns, such as beautiful old houses, ancient churches, historical town halls and authentic farms.

Be lazy or active, behind the dikesand dunes

Antique shop ZIerikzee

For most of the year, the coast is the meeting point for everyone. Unique and always different. And in Zeeland, one can reach the coast within a quarter of an hour from any given place. Whether it is the banks of the Oosterschelde, or a boulevard of the Westerschelde, or one of the beaches along the North Sea coast; to each his own. One goes for a tasty meal at a beach pavilion, the other strolls along the beach with the entire family in search of seashells. Centuries old fossils can be found at Domburg and Cadzand, younger shells and small shellfish are to be gathered all along the coast. And at Cadzand one finds the occasional shark’s tooth!

The coast, all year round…

Small antique shops full of hidden treasure, original souvenir shops, exclusive boutiques with fantastic clothes, malls with an enormous variety in goods... Zeeland is a fantastic place to go shopping. There are large department stores where you can find just about anything you need, as well as many lovely small-scale shops with a unique stock. There is ample opportunity to go fun shopping. The towns of Hulst, Zierikzee, Goes and Middelburg cater to the needs of the true shopaholic. You could easily spend a day shopping in any of these towns. Most shops are to be found in their historic town centers. A shopping and sightseeing experience in one.

Find all you need (and more)in Zeeland

If you want to buy truly unique gifts for your loved ones (or maybe yourself) Zeeland is an excellent place to find them. But beware, it will be hard to make a choice. Lovely jewelry, local handicrafts, souvenirs, soaps, local foods, wines, liquors and much, much more... Did you know that of all the Dutch, the people of the province of Zeeland are rumored to be the thriftiest? That means that you are bound to find great bargains here!

The shops of Zeeland and all the goodies, gifts and gadgets they have on offer are waiting to be discovered. Get ready for some genuine top class shopping!

Fresh produce from the sea and the land. You must taste it to believe it. Take a seat in one of the many small restaurants Zeeland boasts. Every menu has such an abundance of specialties from Zeeland that it is hard to make a choice. On top of that every kitchen has its specialties, the chef’s secrets will not easily be revealed! Fish lovers are spoilt for choice. Will you choose the mussels or Oosterschelde lobster? Perhaps you would rather have fresh water eel or herring. Fresh fish straight from the sea onto your plate…What else would you expect with the sea within reach. It is always busy at the fish auction. Everyone wants to stock up on the best fish. In an outdoor cafe you order a Zeeland ‘bolus’ with your coffee or tea: a finger-licking sweet treat. Or just buy them yourself in the supermarket. Will your purchase make it home? Take home a little bag of genuine ‘boterbabbelaars’ as a souvenir for those at home: an authentic Zeeland sweet. Once you start eating them you cannot stop.

Fish lovers are spoilt for choice.

Fishing has been an important source of income for the people of Zeeland. It is not hard to imagine why. Zeeland consists for a large part of water which is rich in fish. It is the raison d’être for fishing villages such as Arnemuiden, Yerseke, Terneuzen, Bruinisse and Colijnsplaat. These places each have their own harbor, nowadays also for pleasure boats.

ColophonThese brochure is a publication from Promotie Zeeland Delta, Postbus 8, 4357 ZG Domburg, tel. +31 (0)118-587707, info@vvvzeeland.nl. Concept en realization: DenieuweVORM, www.denieuwevorm.nl. Text: Promotie Zeeland Delta, Zeeland Sea Ports. Translations (partially): English Services (Communications) BV en SBText: vertaling, tekst, communicatie. Cartography Europe: © Anyway Productions, Hansweert.Photography: Limit Fotografie, Thijs Tuurenhout, René Coene, Zeeland Sea Ports, Promotie Zeeland Deltawww.laatzeelandzien.nl/beeldbank: Ben Seelt, Willem Woznitza, Paul van Bueren, F. Buonadonna,Eddy Westveer, Dennis Wisse. Print: Corelio Printing, Erpe-MereThis brochure has been compiled with the utmost care. However, the compiles cannot accept liability for the accuracy of the data.