Traditions of Zeeland in authentic landscape
Burgh-Haamstede, Renesse, Noordwelle
For a long time, Zeeland was the main madder and grain producer in western Europe. To store all those crops, barns were needed. Thus, a new type of farm came into being: a farmhouse with a large, detached barn next to it, built of black hipped boards. Often with a white outline around the roof, so that the farmer or servant could also find his way around at night. These barns remain a characteristic image for Zeeland to this day. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Zeeland developed into a true agricultural province. Even today, there is still a lot of cultivation in this region. Until the mid-20th century, fruit was grown here in abundance. And did you know that the Kop van Schouwen was also a paradise for flower bulbs? Nowadays, you hardly find any bulb fields anymore, but fruit orchards are! However, farming was hard work, especially in the wet clay soils. At the end of the 19th century, a special breed of horse was therefore bred: the Zeeland draught horse. The first Flemish cold-blooded stallions were imported from Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Cold-blooded because they had quiet characters. The stallions were also strongly built, had large broad hooves and were very strong. Perfect for working clay soil. A little later, the cold-blood mares also arrived, after which breeding took off. Draught horses were of great importance to the people of Schouw. Besides agriculture, the animals were also used in transport, the port and industry. There was a draft horse grazing in almost every meadow. Horses were also used for sports and games. Ring stabbing on horseback, for instance, is still done during village festivals, such as the traditional Schouw festival 'de Straô'. This festival dates back to 1643 and has the status of Intangible Heritage on the UNESCO list. Nowadays, it is mainly a cosy feast. In a colourful procession, as the horses are beautifully decorated, the riders leave for the beach. The festival traditionally starts in Renesse on a Saturday in mid-February. On the following five Saturdays, it is celebrated in Noordwelle, Burgh-Haamstede, Scharendijke, Ellemeet and Serooskerke. The large number of horses also changed the streetscape of Zeeland's villages. Many villages were home to a blacksmith. In order to shoe the heavy, large legs of Zeeland's draft horses, a special workshop was developed: the travalje. This was an open construction built of wood and iron, often outside on the street in front of the smithy. In it, the horse could be secured as well as the horse's legs. This allowed the blacksmith to shoe the horses safely. In addition to horseshoes, many fences were forged in the forges. Each region had its own material, colours, size, shapes and symbols. The Zeelanders attached great importance to an ornate and decorated fence as an entrance to their yard. Although many regional fences have been replaced by modern ones, you can still recognise a traditional symbol here and there. Everywhere in the landscape you can see traces of the history of the Kop van Schouwen. A cycle route to keep your eyes open at all times This Premium cycle route was compiled by our editor: Anne de Zwaan
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Burghse Ring 24, 4328 LL Burgh-Haamstede | 45.1 KM | |
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From
72
to
73
|
461 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head northeast on Burghse Ring | 461 M | ||
| You are now at section 73 | 0 M | ||
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From
73
to
76
|
9271 M | 9.3 KM | |
| Head northwest on Moolweg | 797 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Vertonsweg | 765 M | ||
| Turn left | 300 M | ||
| Continue onto Kloosterweg | 340 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 85 M | ||
| Continue onto Kloosterweg | 161 M | ||
| Turn right onto Maireweg | 969 M | ||
| Turn left onto Duinhoevepad | 1.4 KM | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Duinhoevepad | 86 M | ||
| Turn right onto Oude Hoevepad | 1.7 KM | ||
| Continue straight | 92 M | ||
| Turn left | 302 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 1.6 KM | ||
| Continue onto Duinweg | 603 M | ||
| You are now at section 76 | 0 M | ||
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From
76
to
75
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577 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head southeast on Scholderlaan (R102) | 561 M | ||
| Continue straight | 16 M | ||
| You are now at section 75 | 0 M | ||
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From
75
to
74
|
5855 M | 5.9 KM | |
| Head southwest on Laone | 290 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Laone | 11 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Laone | 199 M | ||
| Turn right onto Lange Reke | 92 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Lange Reke | 74 M | ||
| Turn right onto Oude Moolweg | 50 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zeeanemoonweg | 149 M | ||
| Turn left onto Jan van Renesseweg (R103) | 357 M | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Vroonweg (R104) | 10 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Vroonweg (R104) | 483 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 1.7 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Vroonweg | 1 KM | ||
| Turn left to stay on Vroonweg | 755 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kloosterweg | 707 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
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From
74
to
78
|
4792 M | 4.8 KM | |
| Head east on Serooskerkseweg | 382 M | ||
| Continue onto Serooskerkseweg | 236 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Bouwmansweg | 3.4 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Lokkershofweg | 19 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zuidwelleweg | 340 M | ||
| Turn right onto Dorpsring | 82 M | ||
| Turn right onto Smidsweg | 348 M | ||
| You are now at section 78 | 0 M | ||
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From
78
to
77
|
741 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head northwest on Stoofweg | 741 M | ||
| You are now at section 77 | 0 M | ||
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From
77
to
83
|
3083 M | 3.1 KM | |
| Head northeast on Kuijerdamseweg | 2 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Schelpweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 83 | 0 M | ||
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From
83
to
82
|
661 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head south on Schelpweg | 661 M | ||
| You are now at section 82 | 0 M | ||
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From
82
to
80
|
2632 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head southwest | 675 M | ||
| Turn left onto Ridderweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Oude Zandweg | 322 M | ||
| Turn right onto Dorpsweg | 401 M | ||
| You are now at section 80 | 0 M | ||
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From
80
to
81
|
836 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head south on Stoofweg | 218 M | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Stoofweg | 17 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Serooskerkseweg | 242 M | ||
| Continue straight | 181 M | ||
| Turn right onto Delingsdijk | 110 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Haven Serooskerke | 68 M | ||
| You are now at section 81 | 0 M | ||
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From
81
to
71
|
5157 M | 5.2 KM | |
| Head west on Haven Serooskerke | 32 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 156 M | ||
| Continue straight | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Stolpweg | 3.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 71 | 0 M | ||
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From
71
to
70
|
3297 M | 3.3 KM | |
| Head southeast on Havenplateau | 168 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.5 KM | ||
| Make a slight right | 157 M | ||
| Turn right | 108 M | ||
| Turn left onto Cauersweg | 104 M | ||
| Turn left onto Westerseweg | 701 M | ||
| Turn left onto Hoogh Plaetweg | 579 M | ||
| You are now at section 70 | 0 M | ||
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From
70
to
72
|
7741 M | 7.7 KM | |
| Head west on Kampweg | 572 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Kampweg | 792 M | ||
| Turn left onto Steenweg (R112) | 185 M | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Kraaijensteinweg (R112) | 17 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout onto Kraaijensteinweg (R112) | 296 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Kraaijensteinweg | 70 M | ||
| Continue straight | 199 M | ||
| Turn right | 5 M | ||
| Turn left | 161 M | ||
| Turn left | 53 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.5 KM | ||
| Turn right | 358 M | ||
| Keep right at the fork | 1 KM | ||
| Turn right | 242 M | ||
| Turn left | 479 M | ||
| Turn right onto A. van der Weijdeweg | 528 M | ||
| Turn left onto Hogeweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| Make a slight right onto Burghse Ring | 63 M | ||
| You are now at section 72 | 0 M |