Every Tuesday in Veere and Every Saturday at the Town Hall
If you want to see the most beautiful place in all of Zeeland, then you must visit Veere on the Veersemeer. Until the Renaissance, Veere was one of the most important harbor towns in the Netherlands and owed its immense wealth to the trade in cloth and wool. Beautiful houses and romantic streets, as well as the fact that Veere is almost entirely surrounded by water, give the place a very special flair. Do not miss the historic market! It is held every Tuesday in the summer and is a real spectacle with numerous specialties. Another must-do in Veere is a visit to the inn "De Campveerse Toren", where kings, tsars, and many a 'lesser' celebrity have dined and enjoyed the view of the Veersemeer. The second highlight of Walcheren is Middelburg, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Middelburg is surrounded by water yet not by the sea. The picturesque canals make it possible! Beautiful buildings such as the Gothic town hall or the old monastery "Onze Lieve Vrouwe", as well as the many good shopping opportunities, make your trip to Middelburg a thoroughly enjoyable experience. You might even feel like getting married when you watch the amusing bride and groom hustle in front of the town hall on Saturdays. Tip: From "Lange Jan", the tower of the monastery "Onze Lieve Vrouwe", you can get a good overview of the city and surrounding area. The monastery tower, at 90 m high, is the highest elevation in Walcheren and the landmark of Middelburg. A must not only for sailing enthusiasts is a sailing trip on the brown-sailed "Hoogaars", the hundred-plus-year-old Veersemeer boats. Since their stern is raised high, they got their name "hoog aars", meaning "High Butt", forever. The association for the preservation of these special shellfish fishing boats offers recommendable excursions. Do not miss a detour to Domburg! The city by the sea with its beautiful fine sandy beaches is one of only two Dutch seaside resorts recognized for thalassotherapy, making it the prime address for beneficial seawater and maritime climate therapy.
Paradisiacal Offers for Children – Sand, Dunes, and Much More for Adults!
As always in the Netherlands: Those traveling to Walcheren with "little ones" will be overwhelmed by the abundance of options! Whether it's the family park "Mini Mundi" and "GlowGolf", a mini-golf course with jungle animals in Middelburg, the "Family Entertainment Center Dock" in Vlissingen, or alpaca walks on the beach – you're sure to find something on the peninsula of Walcheren! And if that's not enough action, take a trip to "Deltawerke Neeltje Jans". There, you'll find an artificially created island with a seal show, whale exhibition, hurricane machine, 3D movies, the sea aquarium Aquapolis, a water playground, and a water slide for the little ones. To wrap up, it's best to book one of the tranquil boat tours on the Oosterschelde. The wide, miles-long sandy beaches of Walcheren are not only famous in the Netherlands! They offer everything a sea and beach lover could desire. Surfing, kite flying, sunbathing, beach ball, and many other beach pleasures are available at the top seaside resorts of the peninsula such as Zoutelande, Westkapelle, Domburg, Oostkapelle, and Vrouwenpolder. Beautiful beach pavilions, nice boulevards, appealing town centers, and especially magnificent sandy beaches with grand dune landscapes behind them await you here, making your beach holiday in Walcheren an unforgettable experience. Holiday with a dog in Walcheren is a great idea, but it might be better planned outside the season. On one hand, due to the strong sunlight on the beach (dogs hardly sweat), and on the other, because some popular beaches are subject to time restrictions or a leash requirement for dog owners during the season. Outside the season, however, your dog can romp around freely and without a leash at any time!
Long Gone are the Days of Frituuren!
What lands on the plates of holiday guests from home and abroad in Dutch Zeeland is far from just "Frituuren". Look out for the slogan "Lekka Zeeuws", which will lead you on organized bicycle tours in search of real and good specialties. You will soon discover the "Bolus", a sweet yeast twist that seems simple but is a great taste sensation. Zeeland's, and thus Walcheren's, culinary scene is defined by the omnipresent sea. Shellfish, mussels, oysters, naturally fresh fish, but also meat from animals that graze freely on the dykes and salt marshes, and plenty of vegetables, asparagus, and berries enrich Zeeland's regional offerings. Lobster fans can look forward to Oosterschelde lobster specialties, while others might opt for delicious mussel stews or the heart clams hidden on the mudflats. However, be careful, the exquisite heart clams are a dwindling and unique food source for some seabirds! Alternatively, you can indulge in the irresistibly delicious "Kreukels mee krentebroôd", periwinkles with raisin bread, traditionally eaten in Zeeland at Easter. Vegetarians need not miss out on the salty "sea products". They can simply opt for samphire, sea aster, and other tasty sea-salted vegetables from the coast. Almost everything that thrives in Zeeland seems to have a slight sea and salt note and is especially crisp. Sweet complements salty, for example, the handmade caramel candies "Zeeuwse Boterbabelaars" found throughout the region.
Many Ways Lead to Zeeland and Your Accommodation in Walcheren
Walcheren is a Dutch peninsula and part of the southwestern Zeeland. It is connected to the peninsula Zuid-Beveland by the Sloe Dam and to the mainland via a bridge. You can easily reach your vacation apartment or beautiful holiday home in Walcheren by car via the A7 motorway towards Groningen, the A3, or the A67 towards Eindhoven, or from Cologne via the E313 to Antwerp and onwards to Goes. A more environmentally friendly and relaxing option is by train. Numerous IC and ICE trains operate from German stations to Amsterdam, where you can transfer to an IC to Middelburg or Vlissingen and arrive at your accommodation in two and a half hours. Car ferries no longer operate to Walcheren, but a pedestrian ferry (bicycle transport possible) runs between Vlissingen and Breskens, Westerschelde. If you own a yacht, you will have no problem finding a berth in the numerous beautiful marinas.