Sint-Annaland: Village History and Windmills

In Sint-Annaland, you can make village history, the museum and the maritime landscape different focal points of your trip. The village is a ring village dating back to 1476. At its centre stands the present-day church, built in 1899 on the site of an earlier Gothic cross-shaped church dating from 1494. The two dates place the present-day church and its predecessor in different periods of construction.

The “Ommetje Sint-Annaland” walking route leads from the harbour complex along Voorstraat to the church, then along the marina at the Krabbenkreek. Voorstraat is also the village’s main shopping street. The route thus connects a series of stops, taking in the harbour, street and church.

Ring Village, Windmills and Historic Houses

The windmills, too, tell of different construction periods and styles. Sint-Annaland’s wooden post mill dates from 1684/85. The stone Dutch windmill De Vier Winden was built in 1847. Their dates and different types of mill can be compared directly.

Named houses with stepped gables include “Nooit Gedacht”, a yellow brick residence with corner markings bearing the year 1662. The Nonnetjeshuis is a 17th-century stepped-gable house on Voorstraat, associated with three sisters who lived in seclusion. At Voorstraat 38, too, the stepped gable is a distinctive feature: it dates from the first half of the 17th century and is well preserved, intact and richly detailed. “Klein Muiterij”, meanwhile, is a brick residence with a tall pitched roof covered in tiles. The year “1646” may be painted in red bricks on its gabled façade.

Museum, Walking Tour and Regional Produce

The De Meestoof regional museum provides an overview of the former life and culture of the islands of Tholen and Sint-Philipsland, with particular attention paid to madder. The museum is housed in the former town hall on Bierensstraat. The building was constructed in 1940 and has been used by the museum since 1973. The grounds also contain a fully furnished Norwegian flood disaster house. It was donated to the Netherlands to support reconstruction after the 1953 flood disaster.

The guided “Beleef & Proef Sint-Annaland” tour combines a village walk with stories and places of interest introduced by a local guide. The tour includes a tasting of typical treats from the village or region and a visit to Zeeland’s oldest windmill. Availability is seasonal, so check before travelling whether the tour runs during your visit. De Meestoof’s escape room can be booked year-round.

The auction in Sint-Annaland also offers seasonal produce and regional products, including Zeeuwse Babbelaars, mustard and mussel sauce. These local offerings add to the historic sights and are worth considering when planning your trip.

Harbour, Oosterschelde and Nature

Sint-Annaland’s marina is a tidal harbour on the Krabbenkreek, an inlet of the Oosterschelde. A small beach next to the harbour is used for swimming in the Oosterschelde. For divers, the dive site is in the middle of the Krabbenkreek, just outside the harbour. The tidal current can be strong enough to require experience. You can enter the water using a rope or a diver’s ladder; check local conditions before diving.

The Schorren van St. Annaland are among Staatsbosbeheer’s nature areas on Tholen. The guided “Laarzentocht” excursion takes you through creeks, across the salt marsh and over the mudflats of the Schorren. Access is restricted seasonally because of the bird-breeding season. The options by the water therefore differ considerably: the harbour and beach are landmarks for a stay by the Oosterschelde, while access to the excursion in the Schorren is subject to seasonal conditions.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

When looking for a hotel in Sint-Annaland, it helps to decide what you want to focus on first. Would you mainly like to explore the ring village, historic houses and De Meestoof, or are you more interested in the harbour and water? If a guided tour is important to you, also take its seasonal availability into account. This will help you choose a destination based on what matters for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Sint Philipsland, Tholen, Poortvliet, Sint Maartensdijk, Scherpenisse, Stavenisse

Go to the main travel overview: Tholen.