Vlissingen, Koudekerke, Westkapelle

Vlissingen has an international background. At the beginning of the Eighty Years' War, the city fell into the hands of the Spaniards, until the residents managed to get them out of the city. In 1585 Vlissingen was a gift to Queen Elisabeth in exchange for help in the fight against the Spaniards. There was the occupation by Germans in World War II and the inundation of Walcheren by the British allies. The result of this flooding is still best seen in the bay of Westkapelle. In the Polderhuis Dike and War Museum in Westkapelle, you can learn all about it.

Thanks to the Treaty of Fontainebleau, Vlissingen was also a French possession for a while. The descendants of the former conquerors still find this part of Zeeland and it is no wonder. For although the inhabitants want to remain Zeeland and Dutch, they are always welcome to join in!

Although you might think that Zeeland is flat, you might just come across a 'vliedberg'. These are hills of earth that were built from the 11th century onwards as residential hills. Later, defence towers (also known as motte castles) were built on them. Zeeland had hundreds of 'vliedbergen' in the Middle Ages, but now there are only about forty left. You will pass two of them on this route.