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| Walcheren | ||
| province | Zeeland | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 113.911 (2012) | |
| height | 47 m | |
| Tourist info web | www.vvvzeeland.nl/de/inseln/walcheren/ | |
| location | ||
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Walcheren (Pronunciation with a sharp "-ch-" as in "Dach", emphasis on the 1st syllable) is today a peninsula and at the same time the westernmost former island in the Dutch province Zeeland. It is now firmly connected to the neighboring island to the east over the Sloedamm Zuid-Beveland connected. Nevertheless, Walcheren has always been able to preserve its independent island character. Walcheren borders on this in the north Veerse Meer, in the west to the North Sea and in the south to the Westerschelde estuary. This is also the mouth of the Scheldt. Originally, the former Sloe estuary formed the eastern boundary.
Walcheren consists of the three communities Middelburg and Vlissingen and Veere. All three core locations are of course worth a visit. The seaside resorts of Oostkapelle, Domburg , West chapel and Dishoek (belongs to Koudekerke) are on the North Sea or, if you are precise, on the Scheldt estuary. In the interior of the country there are now many accommodation options; possible rain clouds clear the fastest directly on the coast.
The part of the beach and the coast that the southern sun shines on is called the "Zeeuwse Rivièra". Indeed, Zeeland has the most hours of sunshine in the Netherlands. On the beaches between Vlissingen and Westkapelle, with a view of the water, you have the sun in front until the evening hours, from Westkapelle to Oostkapelle more in the back.
Today you can only find sand on the beaches, as this is regularly artificially washed up by the sea by the coastal protection. Ten years ago you could still find silt in a few places.
Inland, the mixture of bran and sand, which was formed centuries ago when Zeeland still consisted of islands and was at the mercy of the sea, is responsible for the very fertile soils. Today arable crops are grown on large and small farms and are also offered by direct sellers in many places. However, farmers perceive the overexploitation of arable land due to tourism as a problem.
Municipalities
- Middelburg with the former city Arnemuiden and the villages of West-Souburg and Nieuw- en Sint-Joosland.
- Vlissingen with the villages of Oost-Souburg and Rithem
- Veere municipality with the city Veere, the seaside resort Domburg as well as the villages Grijpskerke, Aagtkerke, Serooskerke, Koudekerke, Biggekerke and Meliskerke, Oostkapelle, Vrouwenpolder, Fort Den Haak and the artificial island Neeltje Jans and the seaside resorts West chapel and Zoutelande.
Other goals
background
At the beginning of the era, the landscape of Walcheren consisted of a chain of dunes with a swampy moor area behind. The first inhabitants settled on the coast or on the banks of the bog streams. After 300 AD, the water got free rein. The swamp bog became a landscape with deep watercourses. After 600, when the sea had calmed down, new residents settled on the higher parts. The first dikes were built in the 12th century. The new land polders of Vrouwenpolder (approx. 1300) and Nieuw- en Sint-Joosland (approx. 1600) were added later. The villages have been laid out differently: Koudekerke, Biggekerke, AAGENKerke, Grijpskerke, Oostkapelle and Zoutelande are typical Ringdörferbuilt around a central church. Middelburg, Souburg and Domburg were built around a Carolingian rampart castle. Veere, Vlissingen and Arnemuiden were at the mouth of a watercourse and Westkapelle is a typical dike village. The Sloe dam has been connecting Walcheren with Zuid-Beveland since 1871. Until the Second World War, Walcheren consisted of a lively landscape with hedges and trees. After the Allies bombed the dikes in 1944 and flooded Walcheren to drive away the German occupiers, the Zeeland garden became a bleak and desolate landscape. Sixty years later, Walcheren is again an island with blooming dunes and a “green” hinterland. The great flood disaster of 1953 went well for the population. In contrast to the dykes on the islands north of Walcheren, their dykes held North Beveland and Schouwen-Duiveland .
Directions
By car
- From northern and eastern Germany:
or. 
Towards Groningen,
Assen - Hoogeveen - Zwolle - Amersfoort - Utrecht; 
Gorinchem - Breda; 
Roosendaal - Goes - Vlissingen
- From West and South Germany:
- Of the
to GÜG Elten; 
Arnhem - Utrecht; Gorinchem - Breda; 
Roosendaal - Goes - Vlissingen. (Also E312) - or
- GÜG Venlo
Eindhoven; 
; Breda - Roosendaal - Goes - Vlissingen - or
- Of the
to GÜG Vetschau on the
to guillemots, then on the E 313 continue to Antwerp, then direction Bergen op Zoom but turn right in the direction of Goes.
By train
- from East and North Germany:
- IC to Amsterdam C; change there in IC to Middelburg or Vlissingen. This train now stops at all stations on Walcheren. The travel time between Amsterdam and Vlissingen is 2.5 hours.
- from southern and western Germany:
- ICE to Amsterdam C; change there in IC to Middelburg or Vlissingen.
- or
- Cologne / Düsseldorf to Venlo. Change there in Intercity to Breda; Change to train to Roosendaal; there change to Intercity to Middelburg or Vlissingen.
- from Maastricht to 's-Hertogenbosch; there change to IC to Roosendaal; there change to Stop clean to Middelburg or Vlissingen. This train also stops in Arnemuiden on Walcheren.
mobility
- The Dutch Railways (NS) maintain a route in Zeeland on which an IC runs between Vlissingen and Amsterdam C with onward travel to Lelystad. This train runs once an hour.
The Stoptrein Vlissingen - Roosendahl has been replaced by intercity trains, which now stop at all stations on Zeeland.
- Connexxion serves many routes.
Here is a list of the most important lines (streekbussen) :¡
- 395Rotterdam Zuidplein - Zierikzee (Mon-Sun, 1h)
- 133 Zierikzee - Middelburg (50 min)
- 50 Middelburg - Terneuzen (50 min)
in the Local bus transport Middelburg is the hub of the bus routes. In principle, every place on Walcheren is served by a bus line; on the main lines every half an hour, on the secondary lines usually less frequently. In the evenings, on Saturdays or during the school holidays, there are fewer or no buses, on Sundays bus traffic is restricted or nothing drives at all.
- 52: Middelburg - Buttinge - Grijpskerke - Oostkapelle - Domburg.
- 53: Middelburg - Koudekerke - Biggekerke - Meliskerke - Zoutelande - Westkapelle - Domburg.
- 54: Middelburg - Veere. Does not drive in the summer vacation.
- 55: Middelburg - West Souburg - Vlissingen
- 56: Middelburg - Koudekerke - Vlissingen.
- 57: Middelburg - Oost-Souburg - Vlissingen.
- 58: Middelburg - West Souburg - Vlissingen.
- 61: Middelburg - Nieuw en Sint Joosland - Vlissingen-Oost - Ritthem - Oost Souburg.
Summer bus
- 64. Middelburg - Veere - Vrouwenpolder - Oostkapelle - Domburg - Westkapelle - Zoutelande - Vlissingen. Only drives into the summer holidays.
Belbussen ("Call Buses")
- 59: Arnemuiden - Kleverskerke - Middelburg.
- 62: Veere - Gapinge - Grijpskerke - Klein Mariakerke - Meliskerke.
- From August 30th (2015) there will be various changes and restrictions in bus traffic. There are often specially deployed buses for the evening markets. However, the Connexion website only provides information in Dutch.
Ferries
In the past, ferries and ships were the only means of transport between the (half) islands. With the opening of the Westerschelden Tunnel, the last car ferry was also put out of service. The ferry connection between Vlissingen and Breskens, which was important in the past, only runs for cyclists and pedestrians, but still daily:
- Vlissingen (WA) - Breskens (ZV) (Westerschelde)
More information under Rondje Pontje
In the street
- There is only one freeway that , which more or less parallel to the Roosendaal - Vlissingen railway line connects the cities of Vlissingen and Middelburg with Noord-Brabant.
- In north-south direction, expressways run over the various dams, so the N57: it leads from the Ring Rotterdam over the Haringvlietdam, the Brouwersdam, the Oosterscheldekering and the Veerse Gatdam to Middelburg and Vlissingen. New page in German showing the dams from above
- The N62 leads from Middelburg to the connection with the A58 and on through Zuid-Beveland and the Westerschelden tunnel to Terneuzen , crosses the N61 and meets the E34 at the Belgian border town of Zelzate.
Biking and bike rental and FIKS
The Fietsknooppuntensysteem (FIKS - "Bicycle Junction System") Zeeland is a signposted network of cycle paths and footbridges. Walcheren and Noord-Beveland form a separate region in FIKS Zeeland. A map showing all sections of the route with numbers is available for € 5.00 from the VVV tourist offices, bookshops and tourist offices. (The previously numerous ANWB routes with the hexagonal signs have been completely dismantled in favor of the FIKS.)
- All information about cycling and mountain bike routes can be found on the VVV website.
German side of the Tourist Office (VVV)
- The "Fietscafés" are small bars where cyclists or hikers can take a break without consuming. Bicycle pumps, first aid material, electricity for pedelecs and toilets are provided free of charge. "Wifi" is available in central locations for free mobile internet access.
Even for "electric fietsen" d. H. For Pedelecs there are many rental options (Verhuur). Every bicycle dealer along the coast is still trying to earn some money with this new form of transport.
- 2 Profile De Vriewieler (in Zoutelande), Timmermanstraat 4-6. Tel.: 31(0)1185 61485. Price: Prices: PDF.
- 3 Rijwielhandel S. Kluijfhout (in Dishoek), Kaapduinseweg 14a.
- or in the Business directory look up.
By boat
There is also a ferry between Vlissingen and Breskens wrong. However, it does not transport cars.
- As a peninsula, Walcheren is surrounded by water on three sides. The Veerse Meer, named after the old port city, is important for water sports tourism Veere.
There are numerous marinas.
There are numerous marinas.The website Deltagids offers an overview of route descriptions.
Tourist Attractions
The structural sights are described in the articles of the respective places. To be listed in this article
Most of the nature on Walcheren has been shaped by human hands. It is an old cultural landscape. This is not always obvious and is seldom noticed by tourists, although the origins of polders, creek and dykes are fascinating.
- The sand dunes on the Westerschelde between Vlissingen and the sea dyke of Westkapelle are narrow and sometimes very high. Paragliders can be seen near Dishoek. A hike on top of the dunes is from Vlissingen to Domburg almost continuously possible with a wonderful view of the sea and inland. North of Domburg, the dune area becomes wider and more varied.
- The natural area De Manteling-Oranjezon at Oostkapelle is a pleasant hiking area even for inexperienced people. Some people will rather speak of going for a walk.
- Zoutelande, West chapel, Domburg, Oostkapelle and Vrouwenpolder are well-attended Seaside resorts with wide, clean beaches, boulevards, beach pavilions and dunes.
- in the Polderhuis in West chapel the history of the sea, the sea dike and the village is presented. museum
- The "Backland" consists of small villages that are connected to each other by a network of quiet country roads, cycle paths and cycle paths.
- Vlissingen has an impressive lake boulevard, a historic harbor district and an inviting city center. If the sun doesn't shine: that Zeeland Maritime Museum offers an exciting insight into the history of Zeeland.
- Veere relies on its maritime past. In addition to the picturesque city center, the main attractions are the Scottish houses, the town hall and the Gothic "Grote Kerk", where there are very good music events.
- Watching ships during a walk from the boulevard or from the dunes: here the side of the Ship movements. On the boulevard of Zoutelande there is an information board showing the different types of ships passing by. (Also in German).
safety instructions
- Here, too, there are ticks that could possibly transmit diseases.
- On the beach, the instructions given by the "Reddingsposten", which are present everywhere in the high season, should be observed, because the current can be dangerous for swimmers who want to go further out and for divers. If you watch the green buoys you can quickly see whether the water is running up or down. If the buoys tilt to the left, the tide is high, if they tilt to the right, the tide is low. You should only go into the sea with inflatable boats, surfboards, etc. when the water is running up.
The dunes, including the unfenced areas from the beach, are allowed Do not enter become. You should explain to children who do not know why the protection that the dunes offer us is so important. In the past, warnings were also given about dud bombs that were still around. That is past. Today should be just that Dune grass (beach grass) grow reasonably.
- In the spring of 2016, new sand was washed onto the coast at great expense. This could be seen safely from the dunes.
health
climate
According to the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute, the west of the Netherlands has the most hours of sunshine. Source: (Subpage: Zon) [1]
activities
Sports
- 1 Golf Zoutelande (Left place), Along the coastal road between Zoutelande and West chapel. It is a public space, you do not need the GVB and railway approval otherwise required in the Netherlands. But there could be wind problems and you have to expect that the balls will be lost. The course is along the road and has 9 holes. From July 2015, the leaseholder of the "white ship" will also be offering the fun sport soccer golf or soccer golf course.
- On Delta waterland an overview can be found.
Garden visits
When in spring the large rhododendron bushes in the wooded area 1 De Manteling Many gardens also open up to begin to bloom.
- 2 Ecological garden, Ooskapelle, Noordweg 51. Tel.: 31 118593158. The garden around the guest house can be visited on certain days. It is an ecological cottage garden.
Excursions with children
- 3 Berkenhof's Tropical Zoo (Berkenhof 's Tropical Zoo & Vlugtuin), Langeweegje 10A.
A covered zoo and butterfly garden. Reservations are recommended on some days to go to a restaurant.Price: adults € 11, children € 10.
