Noord-Beveland: Coastal Paths and Island History

Walking between the coast and the inlagen

The “Eindeloos Eiland” walking network comprises almost 150 kilometres of paths. It leads to mudflats, salt marshes, inlagen and villages. Inlagen are areas between the dikes that shape the landscape. Behind the dikes, you can watch many birds in the inlagen; birdwatching huts and screens are provided for this purpose. Please observe local access rules there. From Banjaard Beach, by far the largest beach, you can see the Oosterschelde Storm Surge Barrier and look out across the North Sea.

A shorter, clearly defined outing is the four-kilometre “Uniek” Pearl Route. It starts at Havenstraat 15 in Colijnsplaat. Along the way, you answer questions and collect letters that form a word at the end. The route also tells how Colijnsplaat escaped the 1953 North Sea flood. Check current route conditions before your visit. The four kilometres refer to the route distance, not the time needed to walk it.

Comparing cycling and mountain biking routes

The 36-kilometre “Ontdek Noord-Beveland” route follows the island’s contours and passes through Kortgene, Wissenkerke, Kats and Colijnsplaat. The mountain biking routes vary in length and marking: the western route is 27 kilometres long and marked blue; along the way, you can see the North Sea, the Oosterschelde and Lake Veere. The eastern route is 21 kilometres long, marked red, and offers views of the Zeeland Bridge near Colijnsplaat. At 37 kilometres, the central route is the longest of the three. It runs along Lake Veere, through the countryside and along the Oosterschelde, partly around Goudplaat, and is marked with green arrows.

The dikes also provide a point of reference: along most of them, a cycle path runs parallel to the water on the seaward side. Behind the dikes are inlagen, where many birds can be observed. For those travelling on horseback, there is a network of more than 100 kilometres of riding and driving routes. It runs along roads, designated field margins, verges, forest tracks and the beach. The different routes can be compared by their length, markings and the landscapes described, without assuming a particular walking or riding time.

Colijnsplaat: village character and Roman traces

Colijnsplaat has a protected village setting with a distinctive cultural and historical character. The approximately 240-metre-long Voorstraat forms the main axis of the geometric historic street plan. Linden trees and older, often white-rendered buildings line the street. Next to the reconstructed Nehalennia Temple stands the Roman cargo ship Caudicaria. It can be visited as a freely accessible open-air monument. The temple reconstruction opened in 2005 and is modelled on a Roman temple dedicated to the goddess Nehalennia, patron goddess of shipping and trade.

In the 1970s, about 330 altars to Nehalennia were recovered from the water near Colijnsplaat. In Roman times, the important port city of Ganuenta stood on the island of Orisant in the Oosterschelde. Those interested in maritime art can visit GalleryMaritime in Colijnsplaat, which specialises in contemporary maritime art. Each year, it presents several changing exhibitions featuring works by experienced professional maritime artists; the exhibition programme varies.

Event dates also vary: the Colijnsplaatse Dagen has been held on the second weekend of August since 2003 and was formerly known as Visserijdagen. The Peerock Festival has taken place on the last Saturday in July since 1994. As the annual programme may change, it is worth checking the current dates before travelling.

Water sports and regional highlights

In Kamperland, Schotsman Watersportcentrum has a cable water-ski lift and an aquapark with an obstacle course on the water. For larger groups, the centre organises banana boat rides, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Facilities and group programmes are managed by the operator and may change; contact them directly about reservations and current offers. Several surf schools on Noord-Beveland also offer lessons. Seasonal activities such as these may not always be available; surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, wakeboarding and water skiing are among the options described. You can also book a walk with donkeys from Kamperland. Booking is required, and availability may vary.

There are regional discoveries to be made away from the water, too: in Kamperland, you can sample Zeeuws Emelissebier; copper brewing kettles from a former brewery can still be seen in one of the buildings. The mill in Kortgene dates from 1873, has been fully restored and is used to produce and sell regional products. This gives you a choice of different travel themes: paths and coastal views, local history, changing cultural events and activities on the water.

Discover more destinations: Colijnsplaat, Kamperland, Kortgene, Wissenkerke, Geersdijk, Stroodorp, Kats, Veere.

For the broader travel overview: Zeeland.