When the seven provinces united towards the end of the 16th century to stand up to the Spanish, the first draft of what is now our neighbouring country was created. In each of them, there are destinations for sailors where history is still present. One of them is Zierikzee on the Oosterschelde. It is located in Zeeland, in the very south of the Netherlands.
The town was besieged by the Spanish for nine months in 1575 before it was taken. It was devastated five times by major urban fires, but none of this detracted from the beauty of Zierikzee. Entire city streets seem to have been taken from an Old Master painting. Opulent squares, small alleyways, picturesque little houses.
Koffie Verkeerd and Kibbeling
And this is paired with the Dutch's unique knack for cafés and gastronomy. You want to sit here, sip a Koffie Verkeerd or a beer, perhaps paired with a few bitterballen, those deliciously unhealthy deep-fried balls with a meaty filling, and watch the country and, above all, the people.
If you've seen enough people, you can visit the Stadshuis, the Sint Lievensmonstertoren (it really is called that!) or the Nobelpoort. There is also plenty of culinary delights on offer: Many visitors to Zeeland don't leave the province without a kibbeling, deep-fried pieces of fish, from the stall in the harbour below the windmill. And rightly so, because it's really good. The Gekroonde Suikerbiet right by the harbour is a little more culinary and, above all, very cosy.
With bow to the Oosterschelde
Keyword harbour: You can either moor a little outside and much quieter in the club harbour, coming in directly behind the tide gates, or further through in the town. There you are moored alongside and usually in a packet, sometimes seven to a packet. Caution: Always moor with the bow towards the exit. Electricity, water and toilets with showers are available, payment can be made via i-Marina.
The entrance is via a long canal at the entrance to the Oosterschelde, where there are fog currents that can make for somewhat choppy conditions in windy conditions. But don't worry: it gets calmer afterwards.
Moorings in Zierikzee
Stadthaven Zierikzee. Depending on the tide. Depth: 4 metres. Reservation not possible, phone harbour master: +31 68 99 80, mooring with bow to seaward, sanitary facilities available, also water and electricity.
Also interesting:
- Netherlands: IJsselmeer - the east and the province of Friesland
- Netherlands: IJsselmeer and Markermeer - the south and west
- Netherlands: Marker Wadden - completely natural
