Being stuck in Zeeland for three years can be quite the challenge and I’m sure anyone here takes any possible opportunity to escape the province. Most often this leads to city trips to Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, or Ghent (read our city guide here), but why not try something a little closer to home? There are probably not a lot of people willing to admit that Zeeland is actually quite a nice place, sure there’s no Starbucks or Zara, or a good connection to the outside world, but we do have one of the fastest internet connections and a lot of wonderful beaches. This article gives you three beautiful places to visit while you’ve still got the time. From small harbor town to big touristy beaches, let Zeeland marvel you.
Zierikzee
This quaint little town is about a 40 minute drive from Middelburg, but it will take you between an hour and an hour and a half to reach this town with public transport (for any up-to-date timetables to reach your destination use 9292.nl). Don’t let that defer you from making this journey though, because this trip will be worth it. As the capital of the island Schouwen-Duiven, Zierikzee has a rich history of trade, fishing, and industry, which is reflected in the architecture and its 568 monuments. The Oude Haven and the marina (de Nieuwe Haven) are surrounded by little restaurants where they serve delicious fresh catch.
Veere
This small town is just 20 minutes by bus, but will bring you enormous joy. It is a bit of a tourist hot spot, especially in the warmer months, but it is worth a visit. Veere is an old fishing town, so it is situated the water, which means you can take boat trips across the lake. Prices vary so check it out when you are there. If you have a sweet tooth, you have to visit Oma’s Snoepwinkel. This tiny shop features rows upon rows of Old Dutch candies that are both delicious and cheap! Other must visit shops are Saartje, a cool shop if you’re into cooking, and Malle Jantje, an interior decor shop.
Domburg
Besides the beach, you might not think of many reasons to visit Domburg. Allow me to give you a few reasons. It only takes you thirty minutes to get there by bus (direct line!). There is a beautiful bathing paviljoen, situated near the sea. The food is a little on the pricey side, but I think the atmosphere makes up for that. There’s also a miniature golf course nearby, and a small shopping street where you can find cute trinkets.
While it is totally possible to visit these towns at this time of year, I highly recommend visiting them when it is tourist season, not only because of the more pleasant temperature, but also because shops will be actually open. Oh, the glory of living in Zeeland.
Yonna Kuipers, Class of 2017, is a Linguistics and History Major from Schiedam, The Netherlands.
