Located on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland, Zierikzee is a lively Dutch city that dates back to at least the 13th century. It was the site of a 1304 naval battle, which saw a Franco-Dutch fleet victorious over the Count of Flanders and was accidentally bombed by the British during World War I. Today, Zierikzee is home to a beautifully preserved port and a museum dedicated to the 1953 North Sea flood.
Things to do in Zierikzee
In the heart of Zierikzee is the Town Hall Museum, which showcases the local history through multimedia exhibits and displays. In addition to silverware, model ships and household artefacts, its collection includes paintings inspired by the area. A highlight is the “Greenland kayak”, one of the oldest known kayaks in the world. In the courtyard is a terrace cafe serving drinks and light meals.
Enjoy a stroll around the Zuidhavenpoort, which is home to well-preserved buildings and restaurants serving local mussels. Watch the fishing boats coming and going along the canal or rent a vessel to explore the waterway at your leisure. Changing exhibitions are held within the historic battlements of the Noordhavenpoort.
To the south of Zierikzee is the longest bridge in the Netherlands, the Zeelandbrug, which connects the islands of Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland. Constructed in the 1960s, it stretches more than five kilometres in length as it spans the Eastern Scheldt estuary. Combine your visit with a stop at the Watersnoodmuseum, which details the 1953 flood that devastated the area.
Getting around Zierikzee
Zierikzee is around an hour’s drive from Rotterdam and Rotterdam The Hague Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Long-distance buses connect to Zierikzee while local services travel throughout the city. The centre of Zierikzee is compact enough to explore on foot.