I am not a big fan of Valentine’s Day to be honest. But I never mind an outdoor date whenever possible. I prefer it much over a date night in the city. I prefer to spend my time outdoors. Like going for day hikes or an outdoor activity, like riding my bike. If you are an outdoor lover like me, you will like one if these five date ideas.
An outdoor picnic Going for a picnic is always a good idea. You can bring some delicious food with you while you go hiking. Alternatively, you can go outside just for the purpose of having a picnic. Both are good choices. All you need is some blankets and some food and you are good to go. You can choose a spot somewhere in nature. If it is a rainy day, you can use the booth of your car for a car picnic. Just make sure to park your car somewhere with a beautiful view. For example in Zeeland you can park your car at the lighthouse in Westkapelle.
Bring some food you normally wouldn’t take. Try some tapas and some gluhwine. Enjoy a picnic with just the two of you.
Go stargazing When the weather is clear, you can pack up some blankets to go stargazing together. Put them in the boot of your car to create a cozy spot to just sit back and relax. Find a spot where you have a free view of the sky. Make sure there is not a lot of light pollution. Bring some hot beverages and blankets to keep you warm. Also don’t forget some snacks. A stargazing trip without snacks isn’t complete. I went stargazing on La Palma once and it was the most perfect date night ever.
Go camping Head out for the weekend with a tent. Find a campsite where you are allowed to pitch a fire next to your tent. In the Netherlands you can look at the ‘Natuurkampeerterreinen’. And bring some marshmallows to roast and enjoy a cozy night next to the fire. Afterwards you can bundle up together in the tent.
Try a new outdoor sport together It doesn’t matter if you are both into climbing, or hiking, or something else. Try something new together, try out a new trail, or go to a different climb spot. Or just try something new entirely, something you both have never done before, like tennis or golf. You for sure will have a fun filled day together.
Go for a sunset walk on the beach
It is always a good idea to go to the beach in my opinion. It is even a better idea to go to the beach for sunset. Walk along the beach, even in winter time, this is a fun date idea. After your sunset walk, visit one of the many beach restaurants along the coast. Enjoy a drink or even a meal together to end this beautiful night.
Let me know in the comments if you will try one of these five date ideas. Or let me know what are your tips for a perfect outdoor date idea.
I love to go camping, and it is something that we haven’t had time for the past year. Due to renovating our new home. But at the end of September, we decided we would enjoy the beautiful weather and go for a one night camping trip in the beautiful province of Limburg, The Netherlands. And it didn’t disappoint.
Nature camping
We are a big fan of the Dutch nature campsites, or in Dutch the “natuurkampeerterreinen”. Every year we get the green card, so we can go camping at these campsites. We decided on “Hoeve Krekelenberg” for this mini adventure. We packed all our gear in the car, and we headed over there by car. Unfortunately it was a busy Saturday and it took us longer than we had planned to get to the campsite. But all was forgotten as soon as we arrived at this beautiful campsite.
I had called ahead and they had told us they only had spots left on the children’s field. Upon arrival though, we enquired about the tent fields, and there were a lot of open spots there. So we pitched our Coleman Darwin tent at one of the tent fields. Which was the best decision we could make. We had a beautiful view over the surrounding vine yards. And with the beautiful sunset that night it was a magical evening. With a glass of wine and some snacks overlooking the vine yards. It was a beautiful end to our Saturday.
Hiking
After a perfect night of sleep in the outdoors. We decided to go for a hike directly from the campsite. We headed over to Mulderplas, through the forest, which starts at the back of the campsite. With the rolling hills in Limburg, it actually feels like you are not in The Netherlands. A short hike takes us to the beautiful Mulderplas, and we decided to hike around it, we saw some beautiful water birds and reflections. It was such a peaceful place on a sunny Sunday morning.
After wards we walked past the small restaurant and headed back uphill, along a beautiful church which is situated in the middle of the forest, which is called the Maria chapel. We continue our hike through the forest, and eventually we get to an open field, which gives you a beautiful outlook of the surrounding landscape. After that it was time to head back into the forest, to the campsite and pack up our things and head back home.
It was a beautiful 24 hour adventure, something we will do again next year. Would you go on a 24 hour overnight camping trip? Let me know in the comments.
Would you like to follow in the footsteps of Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh? You can in the beautiful province of Brabant. National Park Van Gogh provides you the opportunity to dive into the nature that has inspired Vincent Van Gogh. Even though the landscapes have evolved in the years, they still hold the beauty Vincent Van Gogh once used as an inspiration for his paintings.
National Park Van Gogh The National Park stretches from Zundert in the west of Brabant all the way to Helmond in the east of Brabant. The National Park offers five hiking routes, all starting from a different point of interest. In this blog I will tell you more about the hike starting at the church in Helvoirt.
Hiking route Helvoirt The hike is 15 kilometers long and starts at the Saint Nicholas Church in Helvoirt. This hike will give you an insight in the places Vincent Van Gogh loved, as well as were his family settled down.
The starting point of the hike is the Saint Nicholas Church, where his father was minister from 1871 up until 1875. Vincent Van Gogh never lived in Helvoirt himself, because he was studying during that period of time and lived elsewhere. But he did frequently come back to visit his family.
A peek inside the church is a must when you start your hike here. There is even an original bible who was donated by Theo Van Gogh to the church. Don’t forget to look up to the ceiling when visiting the church, as it holds some fascinating carvings. There are tours given in the church, visit this link to learn more about the tours provided in the church.
Zwijnsbergen Castle From the church the hike takes you across the countryside to Zwijnsbergen Castle. Here you find a beautiful bench with a view over Helvoirt. A sketch Vincent Van Gogh also made while he was visiting his family in Helvoirt in 1874. It isn’t a coincidence that he loved the countryside as much, since his father had the rule that his kids had to go outside for an hour everyday to enjoy nature.
Loon and Drunen dunes
From here on out you continue your route all the way to the Loon and Drunen dunes. A place that doesn’t even seem real, with no sea in sight. The area combines beautiful forests, heather fields and dunes. Here you can roam freely along the dunes, but since we are enjoying the hiking route, we stick to our route.
In the Loon and Drunen dunes you find a special tree, the maritime pine. Which is closely connected to the paintings. As the maritime pine is a source for terpentine, which is used to make paint.
Farmshop Ons Jos Before you return back to Helvoirt you will pass the farmer shop Ons Jos. Here you can pick up all necessities for a picnic. They have the most amazing farm fresh produce, bread and milk.
You could also stop here on your way over to the starting point, as there are many beautiful picnic spots along the route.
Let me know in the comments if this is a hike you will do in the near future. I would love to hear your experience on this beautiful trail.
Win een weekend weg naar het prachtige Voorne putten
De afgelopen twee jaar mocht in de herfst genieten van al het moois dat het eiland Voorne-Putten te bieden heeft. Fietsen over het eiland, langs uitgestrekte landschappen of wandelen door de duinen. Het kan hier allemaal. En jij kan een weekend naar deze prachtige najaarsbestemming winnen. Hoe? Dat lees je onderaan deze blog post. Voor nu neem ik je even mee in mijn tips voor Voorne-Putten.
Wandeling Duinen en Valleien in Rockankje
Deze wandeling start vanaf het bezoekerscentrum Tennellaplas in Rockanje. Een prachtig opgezet bezoekerscentrum, wat zeker een bezoekje waard is. Deze wandeling neemt je mee door de prachtige duinen van het eiland. Hier waan je je even alleen op de wereld. Met prachtige weidse landschappen gedurende de wandeling heb je even helemaal niet het gevoel in Nederland te zijn, maar midden in de natuur.
Verdedigingslinies Hellevoetsluis
Over de verdedigingslinies in Hellevoetsluis is veel te vertellen, ga met een gids mee van “Stichting Verdedigingswerken” Zij kunnen je alles vertellen over waarvoor de bunkers dienden tijdens de verschillende periodes in de geschiedenis van Hellevoetsluis. Een informatieve en leuke ochtend gegarandeerd.
Wandelen in het Ravense hout, Hellevoetsluis
Een schitterend bos, net buiten de stad Hellevoetsluis. Hier kan je heerlijk wandelen, langs de watertjes, over bruggetjes en door schitterende bomen lanen. Een korte, maar leuke wandeling.
Overnacht in Boutique Hotel de Oude Veste in Hellevoetsluis
Ik mag een overnachting voor twee personen weg geven in het prachtige Boutique Hotel de Oude Veste, te Hellevoetsluis. Een bijzonder hotel, want dit hotel is gevestigd in een historisch pand uit 1878. Dit pand is jaren in gebruik geweest door de Koninklijke marine. Nu dient het als kleinschalig hotel, met 7 hotel kamers. Met elk hun eigen stijl. Wij verbleven in kamer 6 met uitzicht op de haven van Hellevoetsluis en de molen. Heerlijk wakker worden met de grote raampartijen en dit uitzicht.
Wil jij dit nou ook?
Laat dan je gegevens achter via deze link en wie weet overnacht jij binnenkort in dit prachtige hotel! Deze winactie sluit op 8 oktober 2023.
Situated in Brabant, The Netherlands, you will find Van Gogh National Park. As a photographer I am always in search of the light, inspired by one of the most famous Dutch Painters, Vincent Van Gogh.
In the Van Gogh national park culture and nature meet. Let yourself be inspired by one of the greatest artist of The Netherlands, Vincent Van Gogh.There are 5 Van Gogh hiking routes situated in the National Park, which stretches from the West to the East of Brabant. Let me tell you more about the hiking routes near Van Gogh his birth place, Zundert.
Poem route Henriette Roland Holst
First let’s start with a 5k hiking route, starting at the beautiful Angora Hoeve, in the Oude Buisse Heide. Which is situated close by Roosendaal.
The Angora Hoeve was the home of Henriette Roland Holst, a Dutch poet. There is a parking lot at the Angora Hoeve. Next to the Angora Hoeve, you will find the ‘atelier’. Which was burned down, right after it was restored by an artist who couldn’t agree with it’s remarkable architecture. But today it is restored to its full glory. You can take a little detour to visit the Atelier.
The poet route will take you along Rhodendron lanes, towards beautiful oak lanes and into the fens. It is a diverse hiking route, which is well marked.
Along the way you will find Henriette’s poems displayed. Inspiring you with her words and the beautiful nature surrounding the poems.
Van Gogh hiking route Etten-Leur
Etten-Leur is the place where Vincent Van Gogh started his career as a painter in 1881. So it is the perfect place to follow in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh. You can experience the places that inspired Vincent Van Gogh his work.
The perfect place to start this hiking route is The Menmoerhoeve. Which is the perfect place to stop for a lunch or a drink after your hike. The hike is 14k and takes you along the different landscapes that inspired Vincent Van Gogh. You will cross heather fields, as well as beautiful forests and fens.
It is a diverse hike, and if you are lucky you might even find some sheep or cows during your hike.
The van Gogh House
If you still have some time left and you want to learn more about Vincent Van Gogh. You can visit his birthtown Zundert, where you will find The Van Gogh House. Which will tell you more about his art, as well as other expositions which are held here.
One thing you can’t miss when you visit Zundert is the time square. Because if you look carefully, you might notice something special about the pattern of the square. A little hint, you can only take it completely in when watching it form above.
I hope this blog has given you new inspiration to let yourself be inspired by one of the most famous Dutch Painters, as well as finding beauty in the Dutch landscapes of Brabant.
Are you looking for a hiking destination within The Netherlands? Look no further, I have found you the perfect destination for a weekend get away in The Netherlands.
Let me introduce you to the beautiful area Voorne-Putten. With 375 kilometers of hiking trails, an amazing place to go hiking for the weekend.
Voorne-Putten is situated just south of Rotterdam, in the province of Zuid Holland. Which makes it an ideal place for a weekend getaway. It is rural and has the only south facing beach in The Netherlands, in Rockanje. Add to that all the picturesque villages and you have a perfect setting for fall.
Boutique hotel de Oude Veste
Where to stay?
We stayed in the beautiful old town of the city Hellevoetsluis at Boutique hotel de Oude Veste. A beautiful small scale hotel housed in the building of the old marine school. The building was build in 1878. And you will only find 7 rooms, all in their own beautiful style. We stayed in room 6, which has a beautiful view of the harbor of Hellevoetsluis and the windmill. Which was first located at ‘Droogdok Jan Blanken’ and was later moved to it’s current location.
The hotel is within walking distance of all the sights of Hellevoetsluis, so you won’t need your car while staying here.
What to see?
In Hellevoetsluis you will find the old defense lines. ‘Stichting Verdedigingswerken’ organizes tours along the defense lines from April until the beginning of October. We were fortunate to catch one of the last tours of the season. As they are not allowed to enter the casemates during the winter months, due to bats.
I can highly recommend taking a tour of the defense line in Hellevoetsluis, as it comes with an incredible story about the history of the beautiful city of Hellevoetsluis.
After your tour you can take a hike through the city of Hellevoetsluis, there are different routes possible. You can make your own route with the “knooppunten” which are well marked along the city.
If you stay within the city, I can highly recommend going for a sunrise hike, which is what we did. As the city is still quiet and the boats reflect beautiful in the water.
Hiking route “Duinen & Valleien”
Where to go hiking? But of course we came here to go hiking, as Voorne Putten counts 375 kilometer of hiking trails. So let me take you along on the hike “Duinen & Valleien” which starts in the dunes of Rockanje.
We parked our car at the info centre at Tenellaplas, in Rockanje. Where you can easily start the hike, as the first marker is right in front of the visitor centre.
Visitor centre Tenellaplas
Between the ‘knooppunten’ you will follow the red arrow, which will point you in the right direction to the next ‘knooppunt’.
It is an amazing route which totals 13 kilometers, along the beautiful forest and dunes of the island Voorne Putten.
The route is almost entirely unpaved and it almost doesn’t feel like you are in The Netherlands at all. As you just keep walking within nature.
The trail starts in the beautiful forests, and through the dunes, back into the forest. There is only a small part of the trail that will take you along a bicycle path, but that is only about 1k of the total trail.
There are numerous benches along the trail, so just bring your lunch along and find a beautiful spot for a picknick. While you enjoy the peacefulness of this area.
After returning to the visitor centre, don’t forget to check it out. It has some beautiful displays with information of this beautiful area. As well as a little shop. You can also buy hiking routes for children here, called the ‘knapzak’ route.
There is also a restaurant situated next to the parking lot, for your after hike drinks.
Ravense Hout, Hellevoetsluis
If you are looking for a shorter hike, you will want to visit the forest called Ravense Hout, just outside of the city. A beautiful forests, where dogs are allowed to roam free. And where you will find some amazing lanes and bridges inside the forest. We ended our weekend here with a short hike of 3k. Along the beautiful lanes and water ways that are numerous in this forest.
Ravense HoutRavense Hout
Where to eat?
Last, but not least, where to eat while visiting Voorne-Putten? I mean, who doesn’t get hungry from all that hiking? So a good and hearty meal will go along way.
We had dinner at restaurant de Beeren in Heenvliet, a beautiful restaurant, in an even more beautiful town. So don’t forget to head over into town after having dinner.
Restaurant de Beeren
Have you ever visited the island of Voorne-Putten? Let me know in the comments or if you are planning on visiting the island in the future.
The Netherlands isn’t only a country where you can ride your bike, but The Netherlands is also a good country for hiking. After hiking 200 kilometers of the Pelgrim’s route to Santiago de Compostella in Spain last year, it is time to explore some special hikes in The Netherlands.
Unconsciously we walk a lot in busy cities and forests in The Netherlands. Honeyguide Yalou will tell you about 4 beautiful hikes in The Netherlands. So take some time of the next few weekends to explore some of these beautiful hikes. Will you join Yalou on her hikes?
ALONG CASTLES AND FORTRAGES
1.De Hollandse Waterlinie Route
As soon as I heard of the hike along ‘De Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie’ I was excited. This long distance hike is 185 kilometers long. It starts in Muiden and finishes in The Biesbosch. During your hike you will walk along the old defense lines of The Netherlands. Along these route you will find castles and fortrages. This hike is definitely a must see, as it is even on the World heritage site Stelling van Amsterdam.
WITH YOUR FEET IN THE MUD
2. Barefoottrails in The Netherlands
There is nothing that compares to walking on your feet in the garden during summer time. The only downside is that I come home with dirty feet. Or do you know that amazing feeling of sand in between your toes? You can also experience this feeling on one of the barefoot trails in The Netherlands.
During a hike on a barefoot trail, you will walk on al sorts of materials. This varies from soft sand to grass, wooden branches or even wooden wood chips. Barefoot trails are getting more and more popular these days. Groningen is one of the places where you can experience a barefoot trail, it is called ‘Opende’ and a little bit more to the south you will find the barefoot trail of ‘Hof van Twello’, which is a farm with a barefoot trail. Do you live closer to Bergen op Zoom in Brabant? Then you are in luck, because here you will find a barefoot trail at ‘Landgoed Lievensberg’!
CROSSING THE SEA
3. Wad Walk
Something that can’t be forgotten on a hiking list of every Dutchman is hiking along the mudflats. I have been wanting to visit the island of Vlieland for a long time and I would like to combine a visit to the island with hiking on these unique piece of nature. Because hiking along the mudflats is only possible if everything lines up. Which also makes it so special. You can hike from the mainland to one of the islands and learn from a guide more about the beautiful ecosystem of the mudflats. Are you looking for a more activa tour? Or would you prefer a more educational tour? The choice is up to you!
TOWARD THE RIVER ‘DE LEK’
4.GELUKKIGERWIJSPAD
The Gelukkigerwijspad, which translates to the happy wisdom path. The name itself makes you want to experience this trail. This trail is 125 kilometers long and start in the pelgrims city of Amersfoort through the forest where you will end up on the Utrechse Heuvelrug. The trail winds along the river ‘De Lek’ close to the city of Rhenen, towards Wijk Bij Duurstede and Utrecht back to the start in the city of Amersfoort. Back in the fifteenth century Amersfoort was a place of pilgrimage, where miracles happened and pilgrims came for every corner. Are you coming to test your luck?
This guestblog was written by the editorial staff of Honeyguide, the Dutch inspirational platform of concious and special traveling. On the website http://www.heyhoneyguide.com they collect the most beautiful hidden gems and expierinces in The Netherlands. This is how Honeyguide insprires you to go beyond the beaten track and to enrich your spare time with the most beautiful adventures around the corner.
The sunken land of Saeftinghe is a nature reserve situated on the border of Belgium and The Netherlands. It is the place where the river the Scheldt meets the sea the Western Scheldt. That is why the water in Saeftinghe is brackish. It is the biggest brackish husky in Europe. Due to the constant change of the tide, Saeftinghe is an ever changing nature reserve.
You can visit Saeftinghe on your own or your can book a guided tour at the visitor centre located in Emmadorp. Which have started up their tours again as of the 17th of May 2021.
The hiking routes which you can visit on your own also start from the visitor centre in Emmadorp, where you can also park your car for free.
There are two walking routes, “het ruige laarzen pad” and the “plankierpad”. On “het ruige laarzen pad” you will need rain boots. On the “plankierpad” they aren’t required, but I would wear them anyways, since it is really muddy. They are both short trails, 1 and 2 km long, but you can combine them for a longer hike. If you want to hike longer then just this short hike, you can also walk along the Dyke or along the backroads.
Plankierspad I have hiked both, but this time I am concentrating on the Plankierspad. Starting at the parking lot at the visitor centre in Emmadorp, located at Emmaweg 4, Nieuw-Namen. The trail is about 2 kilometers long. You will walk over footbridges and through the mud.
First you cross the dyke, where you will find a map of Saeftinghe. Because of the elevation of the Dyke it is a good viewing point, where you can oversee the nature reserve. On the right side you will see the cooling towers of Doel and the port of Antwerp in the distance. In front of you, you will see the Western Scheldt, where you can see the boats pass by on their way to the port of Antwerp.
From there you hike down to the gate to enter Saeftinghe. Immediately when entering you will find a sign indicating both trails.
At the sign you will go right, where you enter the trail. It is an easy to follow trail as there is only one to follow. There are little wooden signs along the way with assignments for the kids. You can get a booklet with the assignments for the kids in the visitor centre. If you pay attention, you might spot some birds that live in Saefthinge.
How to get to Saeftinghe?
You can park your car at the visitor centre in Emmadorp. Emmaweg 4, Nieuw-Namen There is a big parking lot in front of the visitor centre. You just have to cross the dyke to enter Saeftinghe.
Let me know in the comments if you have visited Saeftinghe.
In Zeeuws-Vlaanderen a new nature reserve has been created the past couple of years. As a resident of this beautiful area, I of course wanted to discover this beautiful area. Waterdunen is situated on the south of the beautiful fishers town of Breskens. It is situated in between the sea and land. It is also a Delta work, a different one from the ones we have all known for years.
An everchaning nature reserve In Waterdunen the tide of the sea influences the area. Water flows in and out every single day. Which creates an everchanging nature reserve. The perfect spot for coastal birds to live and breed.
Bird spotting Since it is such an amazing spots for birds to live, Waterdunen is the perfect location to go bird spotting. Along the hiking routes you will find shelters to observe and watch the birds from a safe distance, without disturbing them. In the shelters you will also find information on the birds that live in the area.
Hiking In Waterdunen multiple trails have been mapped out for visitors. They vary in distance from 4,5 kilometers up until 9 kilometers.
We hiked the orange bird route, which is according to the sign 5,5 kilometers. My Garmin said it was 6,5 kilometers. Most of the route takes you over paved walkways, which makes the route accessible for everyone. The last part of the route will take you along the panorama road along the lighthouse of Breskens.
The orange route takes you along multiple bird houses, so you can take a moment to just relax and watch the birds from a distance.
How to get here? There is a parking lot situated at the Walendijk, Groede. During the summer months you have to pay to park here. Don’t worry about space, because it is a huge parking lot. You only need to worry about space is on hot summer days, when everyone wants to visit the beach.
This year I was invited to share 8 of my favorite spots in Zeeland for the upcoming months. Starting in November until June. I thought I would share the spots I share on my instagram page in a blog post. So you will be able to find all my 8 favorite spots in one click.
I will be adding to this blog post for the next 7 months. So make sure to keep on checking this blog post.
1. Nieuwvliet-Bad
Zeeland is more then just beaches. This spot is located in the dunes in Nieuwvliet and is called ‘De Verdronken Zwarte Polder’. This area will either be flooded or dry depending on the tide of the sea. You will find wooden walking paths here to get easy acces to the beach, so you can keep your feet dry.
There are a lot of birds in this area, as well as some sheep. I even spotted a kingfisher here! It kept circling around me and coming back.
You can hike here on the east side, the hike starts at the Zeedijk, you can follow the red markers which is about a 3k hike.
How to get here? You can park your car at the Dwarsdijk, Nieuwvliet and cross the dunes from the parking lot where you can pick up the hiking route. The parking lot is located right next door to Roompot Beach Resort. In the winter months parking is free, but during summer you will have to pay to park here.
2. Lighthouse Breskens
In Breskens you will find a beautiful cast iron lighthouse. It has been there since 1868. It is the oldest still existing cast iron lighthouse in the Netherlands. It is one of the most iconic buildings in West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
During low tide you can walk along the beach to Breskens. During high tide you can walk along the dykes.
From the lighthouse you can see the skyline of Vlissingen, which is located on across the Westerschelde.
How to get here? The lighthouse is located at the Panoramaweg, where you can park your car for up to an hour. You can also park your car at the end of the Panoramaweg, where there is a big parking lot. Where parking is free during the winter months.
3. Forest Clinge
In Clinge you will find a beautiful forest. It is a beautiful place to go for a hike and you can even wander into Belgium from here into “Het Stropersbos”, as it is situated on the border.
During fall you will find a lot of toadstools here. As well as squirrels busy collecting their winter harvest.
How to get there? There is a little parking lot in Clinge at the entrance of the forest. The parking lot is located at the Hoogegeeststraat, Clinge.
Let me know in the comments what your favorite spots are in Zeeland. Would love to hear them!
4. Zoutelande
There is this song in Dutch about the beach in Zoutelande, but Zoutelande is so much more. I love this corner of Zeeland. The dunes are quite high, which makes for some beautiful view points. You can walk along the walkway in the dunes. Which gives you a beautiful overview of the sea and the backlands.
In the dunes you will find some shelters left from the war. There is even a museum, which you can visit during the summer months. When I was there it was closed though.
How to get there? There are multiple parking lots in Zoutelande, which are clearly marked. I parked my car at parking Wulkpad. Which is only a street away from the beach.
5. Castle Westhove
Did you know there are castles in Zeeland?
One of them is kasteel Westhove, situated in the Dunes near Domburg and Oostkapelle. The gardens are free to access and there are beautiful hiking trails.
I hiked the blue route, which is about 3km, but you can add an extra loop by including a visit to the beach. Which is exactly what we did. Having our morning tea on the beach, watching the waves crashing ashore.
How to get there? There is a parking lot at the Duinvlietweg, Oostkapelle. During the season this is a payed parking lot. All routes start from this parking lot.
6. Saeftinghe
The sunken land of Saeftinghe is a nature reserve situated on the border of Belgium and The Netherlands. It is the place where the river the Scheldt meets the sea the Western Scheldt. That is why the water in Saeftinghe is brackish. It is the biggest brackish husky in Europe. Due to the constant change of the tide, Saeftinghe is an ever changing nature reserve.
You can visit Saeftinghe on your own or your can book a guided tour at the visitor centre located in Emmadorp. Which have started up their tours again as of the 17th of May 2021.
The hiking routes which you can visit on your own also start from the visitor centre in Emmadorp, where you can also park your car for free.
On “het ruige laarzen pad” you will need rain boots. On the “plankierpad” they aren’t required, but I would wear them anyways, since it is really muddy. They are both short trails, 1 and 2 km long, but you can combine them.
The Netherlands is known for it’s tulip fields. You will find the famous tulip fields around Lisse, The Netherlands. But did you know that away from the crowds there are also tulip fields situated in Zeeland?
The tulip fields in Zeeland are mostly situated around Hulst and Graauw. You can make a little road trip out of it.
8. Dishoek & Westkapelle
Zeeland is known for it’s beaches. Which inadvertently links it to lighthouses.
One of the lighthouses is situated on the road and you can actually drive up to the lighthouse at Westkapelle. You can park your car at the foot of the lighthouse and watch the sunset in the sea.
The other lighthouses, there are two of them, you will find in the dunes of Dishoek. An area where you can hike for hours. Or just enjoy the beach.
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