Zoutelande is a cosy village on the beautiful peninsula Walcheren in the province of Zeeland. Quiet (peaceful), amiable and enjoyable. That’s the way the seaside resort Zoutelande is known by a lot of people. Zoutelande was rated by the public in 2013 as the best resort in the Netherlands. When visiting this sunny village, you’ll definitely agree with this view.
Moreover it’s the only southern beach in the Netherlands and therefore it’s also called the ‘Riviera of Zeeland’. The weather in Zoutelande is, according to the measurements of an independent national weather service, on average better than in the rest of the Netherlands. Caused by its favourable location, in Zoutelande the average temperature is always a few degrees higher compared with other seaside resorts.
The village, in the past (like in Domburg) already being cherished by the Dutch painting artists due to its special sunlight effects, nowadays offers an extensive supply of facilities for the tourists. You can get what you want, anything is possible. Only a narrow line of dunes and a dike separate the village from the water of the Westerschelde.
Beaches
A family seaside resort with wide dunes and the unique promenade. The beach of Zoutelande has a distance of five kilometres. The highest dunes in the vicinity are protecting it. Nowhere in the Netherlands the sun is shining so frequently as in this area. The reason for this phenomenon lies in the fact, that the beach of Zoutelande is the only one in the Netherlands, which is situated on the south. The beach has been awarded with a ‘Blue Flag’. This means that it is both clean and hygienic and that there are many facilities available. Even with a wheelchair or a baby buggy you’ll be able to enter the beach.
Sun worshippers are amply getting their money’s worth on the broad, well-kept white sand beaches. Just add to this the facilities such as showers, toilets, changing cabins and first-aid stations and it will be clear that only the sun itself could spoil the fun.
Village
Right behind the beach and the dunes the outdoor cafés, terraces, the shops, the pubs and the restaurants are waiting for you to visit them. The centre of Zoutelande is a nice place to go shopping. The Langstraat is the most important street of Zoutelande. When the sun is shining on the central square, there is no better place to catch your breath than sitting quietly on one of the many terraces underneath even more sunshades. Do you prefer to look at the sea? Just go and get a breath of fresh air on the promenade.
During the summertime Zoutelande is really developing into full blossoming. As a consequence entire streets in this tiny seaside resort are being dedicated to the incoming crowds of tourists, who are eager to spend their holidays in this place. Even the agricultural businesses are getting their share by providing mini camping sites, the so-called ‘camping on a farm’. Renting bikes, beach pavilions, hotels, guesthouses, holiday bungalows, cosy outdoor café terraces, boutiques, and a beautiful promenade. You’ll find all these possibilities in Zoutelande.
Sightseeing
In this amiable little coastal village you’ll find everything, which will make your holiday becoming successful. This way you’ll come across magnificent vast clean beaches, beautiful dunes, restful polder landscape and a lot of interesting sights in the surrounding area. During the summer months there are several attractions, events and summer markets in Zoutelande and vicinity, which are certainly worthwhile to visit.
Somewhat further down the coast lies Domburg, from way back being a beloved seaside resort where the elite used to stay and artists settled. Or go and visit Veere. In this small medieval town almost everything is breathing out (exhaling) a glorious past. Splendid fortresses, monuments and a yacht basin (marina) are shaping the horizon. Veere is situated in a picturesque way at the Veerse Meer (Lake Veere), being an extensive aquatic sport area.
There are also several cities within reach. Partly owing to its broad and long promenade, Vlissingen is an attraction by itself. The city of Michiel de Ruyter exhales a maritime atmosphere. You’ll taste this atmosphere while walking along the quay to the marina, enjoying the view on the Westerschelde and the piloting of the incoming and outgoing ships. Middelburg has more than 1,000 large and small monuments. City walk sightseeing takes you to the most surprising spots!
Surroundings
In the immediate vicinity of Zoutelande you can make wonderful hikes and cycling trips. Especially the area along the dunes is worth the effort. The region inside (and between) the dunes and the beaches is a wonderful scenic area including picturesque villages, farms, meadows, fields and little narrow polder roads. This region is also known as ‘the garden of Walcheren’. There are various cycling routes through the surrounding area. A footpath goes from Zoutelande to Vlissingen almost without interruption. Enough possibilities to discover the vicinity in a sporty way!
In almost no time you can travel from Zoutelande to Zeeuws-Vlaanderen by taking the ferry from Vlissingen. Or you can reach the Flemish monumental cities Brugge and Ghent through the Westerschelde tunnel by car in about an hour driving.
Tips
- Visit the pleasant seaside resorts Domburg, Oostkapelle or the historic villages of Veere and Middelburg with many attractions.
- Discover Walcheren through one of the many beautiful cycling, hiking, horse riding and skating trips.
- Breath of fresh air during a long beach walk, the way to completely lose the tension of everyday life.
- Belgium is nearby.