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 5 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 cycle to the small town of 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 marvelous views over the town, the harbor and the island. Continue your tour crossing the Zeeland Bridge to Middelburg, the capital of the province of Zeeland. Once the second most important city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam, Middelburg is a town full of history. Numerous shops and cafes are waiting to be discovered.

Destination of today’s cycle tour is Neeltje Jans. The former working island 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. Afterwards, continue the cycle tour to Veere, a beautiful holiday seaside town, where once deeply loaded Scottish ships landed.

Today you have the opportunity again, to explore the picturesque, typically Dutch landscape on the Walcheren peninsula around the lively tourist towns of Veere and Middelburg. Nowhere in the Netherlands does the sun shine as often and as long as on Walcheren. Alternatively, you can take one of the bike tours from yesterday.

On the last bike tour you will experience the most famous windmills in the Netherlands at Kinderdijk. The 19 well-preserved mills date from the 18th century and have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It’s worth a visit! Your tour continues along the Maas River to Rotterdam. Take the opportunity for a harbor tour through the largest deep water port in Europe and admire the skyline and impressive architecture from the water.

Disembarkation until 9 a.m. and individual home journey home.