Tholen, Scherpenisse, Sint-Maartensdijk

The Tholen you cycle through during this route looks very different from how it once was. Once, the island of Tholen consisted of all smaller islands, connected by small and larger channels. This made the land very vulnerable to flooding, which is why dykes were built as early as around 1200. The Pluimpot, which you cycle through on this route, was a large gully that cut Tholen in two. It was closed with sheet pile walls in 1556 and later, after the 1953 flood disaster, the gully was permanently closed.

The Eastern Scheldt is an important gateway for cargo ships going to major ports such as Rotterdam and Antwerp. From the Scheldt, several canals connect the North Sea to the rivers. This produces impressive sites, large ships sailing inland through the green nature of Zeeland's landscape.

Many birds do like a fish or a tasty shellfish, so it is not surprising that along the Eastern Scheldt there are so many birds. So you have a chance of spotting the shore seagull, oystercatcher or even a spoonbill.

Apart from water, Zeeland is also known for its large number of windmills. During this route, for instance, you cycle past Korenmolen De Jager in Oud-Vossemeer. For a long time, the mill was able to supply flour and flour to several bakers in the area. Nowadays, the mill still turns regularly and you can buy delicious products for your home during opening hours.