Netherlands: Exploring the province of Zeeland

Individual arrival in Rotterdam. Embarkation at about 4 p.m. You may have  some time left to see Rotterdam’s stunning Market Hall. The Dutch refer to it as their version of the “Sistine Chapel“. At 6 p.m. sail to Holland’s oldest town, Dordrecht, impressively located on an island between three wide rivers.

In the morning, set sail for Willemstad, a small fortified town dating from the 17^th-18^th century, which is well worth visiting. Here start for your first cycle tour. Cross the inland waters of Haringvliet over the Volkerakdam, and cycle through fields and past storybook villages like Zwartsluis and Goudswaard to the popular water sports center of Hellevoetsluis.

With fine weather, it is worth to take a detour to the bathing beach of Rockanje, a wide fine-sandy beach with marvelous dunes, before starting the bike tour. Crossing the Haringvliet again, you pass through small villages like Stellendam with the mill Korenlust, the small water sport village of Herkingen and, continuing along the Grevelingendam, you reach the mussel village of Bruinisse.

Today you can visit the “Watersnoodmuesum” during your bike tour. Here you will learn all about the great flood disaster of 1953 and the “drowned” village of Viane, which was flooded and never rebuilt. Continue towards Zierikzee, which is among the 10 most beautiful Dutch national heritage towns. The „fat tower“ rises high above the town. The top of the tower offers marvellous views over the town, the harbour and the island. Continue your tour crossing the Zeelandbrug – an impressive structure 5 km long, built on 54 piers – to your destination of the day – the harbour town of Veere. Where once richly laden ships from Scotland docked, today impressive yachts are moored.

Today you can choose between three different routes, for example the former working island Neeltje Jans, which was created by rising a sand flat to facilitate the construction of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, the most impressive construction of the Delta Works. You will have the possibility not only to marvel at the locks from up close but also from the inside. The adjacent amusement park “Deltapark” gives an insight into the life of sea lions and the underwater world of the Oosterschelde (optional).

The first stop on your cycling tour is Middelburg, the capital of Zeeland. The city looks back on a rich past and was once the most important city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. Numerous stores and cafés invite you to visit. During a city tour (optional) you will have the opportunity to learn all kinds of interesting facts about the charming city. The tour continues through the picturesque, typically Dutch landscape on the Walcheren peninsula. Wide beaches, forests and dunes await you. Nowhere in the Netherlands the sun shine as often and as long as here.

On your last stretch, explore the best-known windmills in the Netherlands at Kinderdijk. The 19 windmills, which date back to the 18th century, are beautifully preserved and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The windmills are well worth a visit! Follow the route along the Maas River up to Rotterdam, one of the largest ports in the world.

Disembarkation until 9:00 am and individual journey home.