How to Spend 3 Days in Zeeland, The Netherlands

Zeeland is the province with the most hours of sunshine, wide beaches, picturesque villages and vast nature. It is surprisingly beautiful and you are always close to the sea. This guide gives you tips for a multiple day trip to Zeeland; from nice hotspots and cozy villages to beaches where you can get a breath of fresh air and where you have the best chance of spotting seals!

How to Spend 3 Days in Zeeland, The Netherlands

Zeeland is the province with the most hours of sunshine, wide beaches, picturesque villages and vast nature. It is surprisingly beautiful and you are always close to the sea. This guide gives you tips for a multiple day trip to Zeeland; from nice hotspots and cozy villages to beaches where you can get a breath of fresh air and where you have the best chance of spotting seals!

The best place to stay

During our staycation in Zeeland we stayed on the Schouwen-Duiveland peninsula in the cozy town of Zierikzee. This monument city really surprised us! And it is a good base to explore Zeeland. We slept right in the city center in a former warehouse with authentic elements. From here we could easily discover all the highlights of Zierikzee. The evening walks are especially unforgettable. The sunset is so magical! The towers turn into beautiful silhouettes and the facades of the detailed buildings get an orange glow. In addition to beautiful evening walks, Zierikzee has many monuments, a harbor, city gates, cozy squares full of terraces, delicious – instagrammable – food spots, unique boutiques and winding alleys where you can walk for hours.

Restaurant tip in Zierikzee: At Meneer Nilsson you can enjoy a delicious, colorful breakfast, healthy lunch or a nice drink. The looks of this cute restaurant immediately make you want to eat or drink something here! We recommend choosing a spot on the terrace. From here you have a view of the cozy Havenplein.

Admire the impressive Delta Works at Neeltje Jans

The waves crash against it, the wind rages through it and above all, they keep the water level low. We are of course talking about the Delta Works; the famous defense system of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is one of the lowest countries in the world and parts of the country have been flooded, such as during the flood disaster in 1953. Delta Works have been developed and deployed to prevent such terrible disasters in the future. For example, the Oosterscheldekering. This is a lockable storm surge barrier that can close in case of a heavy storm, so that the high water cannot enter the Oosterschelde. Great piece of engineering! The work island Neeltje Jans was specially made for the construction of these Delta Works. Since the completion of the Delta Works, the island has been an information center about the Delta Works.

Spot wildlife in their natural habitat

You can spot seals and porpoises in the Oosterschelde. The clean water, tranquility and space make this the ideal habitat for these animals. For the ultimate experience, we recommend that you bring a binoculars or zoom lens. We were lucky to spot a seal in the water around the work island of Neeltje Jans. So cute! At low tide you have a great chance to see them lazing on the sandbanks, enjoying the sun.

In Koudekerk, the Plompe Toren stands in the middle of the rugged nature. You can also regularly spot seals from this watchtower.

Wander around through the capital Middelburg

Middelburg is the capital of Zeeland and has many beautiful sights. Stroll through the old city center towards the square Markt, admire the special Gothic town hall, shop at the nicest boutiques and concept stores, discover the decorated alleys and the history of this former VOC trading city. During this golden period, Middelburg was the most important city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. The biggest eye-catcher is the 90.5 meter high Lange Jan abbey tower. The best way to admire this tower is from the photogenic Reigerstraat. The street is full of colorful umbrellas. Here you will also find cozy cafes and a bright pink candy store.

Get a breath of fresh air on the beautiful coast of Zeeland

Ouddorp beach is a vast beach where you can enjoy the sun, the peace and the sound of the waves. From the beach you can see the 52 meter high bright red-brown lighthouse Westhoofd. The lighthouse is surrounded by the dunes and has been recognized as a national monument since 2007.

Restaurant tip: In the dunes of Ouddorp you will find restaurant Bij Marc. The food is delicious and for the vegetarians among us; you have plenty of choice! We recommend the ‘Dirty Fries’. These are fries with vegetarian chicken pieces and various tasty sauces.

At the furthest point of the west coast of Schouwen-Duiveland is the wide sandy beach of Burgh-Haamstede. There was a lot of sea fog on the day we visited the beach. This gave a super mysterious view of the beach and the waves disappeared into thin air.

For a small amount you can park near the beach and you can walk onto the beach via the dunes

Visit the picturesque villages Veere and Goedereede

Veere is a 13th century harbor village with beautiful houses, cozy streets and an imposing town hall. The unique thing about this village are the Scottish influences, which can be found in the architecture. The village was used as a storage place for Scottish wool in the 16th century where a large Scottish colony lived for a long time. Be sure to discover the surroundings of Veere. Rent a boat and sail on the Veerse Meer or take a walk along sheep, mills, defenses and the beach.

Goedereede is a cosy, authentic village in Zeeland. During your visit it feels like you are going back in time. The streets are full of authentic houses, there is a special herb garden and the ‘everyone knows each other’ feeling prevails throughout the village. The remarkable tower is the Reformed Church and can be seen from almost every street. Goedereede has a lively center with terraces along the canals and that is the perfect place to enjoy the view with a drink.

Plan your next trip

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We are Abel & Danique, the enthusiastic travel couple behind HappyTravelSpots. With this blog we want to prepare you for your next travel so you know where to find all the happy travel spots. 

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