Michiel de Ruyter: born and raised in Vlissingen
Vlissingen, Middelburg, Grijpskerke
Michiel de Ruyter is the Netherlands' greatest naval hero. After more than 350 years, his name still appears on countless street signs, schools, hospitals and on a large naval ship. Once every fifty years, his birth anniversary is celebrated in a big way. This happens in Vlissingen, where Michiel de Ruyter was born on 24 March 1607. The residents of Vlissingen are still extremely proud of their ‘Michieltje’, as they affectionately call him. When visiting Vlissingen, you cannot miss the lieutenant-admiral general. At a young age, Michiel regularly wandered through the port city. He is a real brat and plays all kinds of pranks. As a result, he is expelled from school at an early age. For a few pennies, he goes to work in the Lampsins brothers' rope-making shop. He does not do his best. De Ruyter has only one dream and that is to become a sailor. At age 11, the time finally comes. He is allowed to join an armed ship bound for South America and the Caribbean. He likes the life at sea and the discipline on a ship. He quickly made a career in privateering and whaling. In 1636, De Ruyter became captain for the first time. After nine years, he earned enough money to buy his own ship. With the Salamander, he sailed the West Indies and North Africa as an independent captain-merchant. In love, things do not go as well. Maayke Velders from the nearby village of Grijpskerke, whom Michiel married in 1631, dies after only a few months. As does his first child. On 1 July 1636, De Ruyter marries his second wife Neeltje Engels from Vlissingen. When his second wife dies in 1650, he decides to leave seafaring for good. He marries widow Anna van Gelder also from Vlissingen, whose husband died as a captain on a sea voyage. The composite family with six children (four by Michiel and two by Anna) go to live in the city centre at 13 Nieuwstraat. The domestic tranquillity does not last long. Soon his former employer Lampsins knocks on the door. On behalf of the Zeeland Admiralty, he asks De Ruyter to join the war fleet as commander. At first, Michiel refuses. He had promised Anna to stay at home. But eventually, out of a sense of duty, he agrees to join one sea battle against the English. His innovative ideas and the strategic choices De Ruyter makes during the sea battle ensure the first Dutch victory in this battle. After returning to Vlissingen, De Ruyter is suddenly a naval hero. Soon he is called upon again and begins his second career as a naval man. In 1655, the family leaves Vlissingen to live in Amsterdam. Until his death in 1676, De Ruyter fights in numerous naval battles and several wars. He defended sea routes important to Dutch trade and eventually made it to lieutenant admiral general. The highest rank in the navy. Portrait: © Rijksmuseum via National Archives. This premium itinerary was compiled by our editor: Elwin Croeze
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
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Start: Vroonweg , 4354 NL Veere | 56.1 KM | |
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| Head southeast on Fort den Haakweg | 992 M | ||
| Turn right onto Elzenoordlaan | 201 M | ||
| Turn left onto Dorpsdijk | 307 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 94 M | ||
| Turn left onto Parallelweg N57 West | 66 M | ||
| Turn right | 56 M | ||
| Continue onto Polredijk | 1.5 KM | ||
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1282 M | 1.3 KM | |
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3546 M | 3.5 KM | |
| Head south | 20 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kraaienestweg | 391 M | ||
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| Turn left onto Snouck Hurgronjeweg | 1 KM | ||
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| Turn right onto Dorpsstraat | 531 M | ||
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1611 M | 1.6 KM | |
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252 M | 0.3 KM | |
| Head west on Golsteinseweg | 252 M | ||
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2396 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head south on Prooijenseweg | 677 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Prooijenseweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Nadorstweg | 585 M | ||
| Turn left onto Parklaan | 61 M | ||
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984 M | 1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Noordsingel | 221 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Koepoort | 86 M | ||
| Turn right onto Koepoortlaan | 25 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Koepoortlaan | 39 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Molenwater | 356 M | ||
| Turn left onto Dam | 257 M | ||
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857 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head southwest on Rouaansekaai | 85 M | ||
| Turn left onto Spijkerbrug | 66 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kinderdijk | 267 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Korendijk | 250 M | ||
| Turn left onto Stationsstraat | 189 M | ||
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361 M | 0.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on Kanaalweg | 323 M | ||
| Continue straight | 38 M | ||
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278 M | 0.3 KM | |
| Head north on Schroeweg | 87 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vlissings Jaagpad | 191 M | ||
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3399 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on Vlissings Jaagpad | 3.4 KM | ||
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1817 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head south on Vlissings Jaagpad | 1.8 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Nieuwe Vlissingseweg | 25 M | ||
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1139 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head south | 15 M | ||
| Turn left onto Prins Hendrikweg | 1.1 KM | ||
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3432 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head south on Veerhavenweg | 67 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 6 M | ||
| Continue straight | 17 M | ||
| Turn left | 80 M | ||
| Turn right | 35 M | ||
| Keep right at the fork | 8 M | ||
| Continue left | 109 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Piet Heinkade | 8 M | ||
| Keep right onto Groene Boulevard | 1.1 KM | ||
| Keep right at the fork | 224 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 237 M | ||
| Turn right | 17 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 13 M | ||
| Turn right onto Oranjedijk | 191 M | ||
| Turn left onto Baljuwstraat | 74 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Zeilmarkt | 82 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Zeilmarkt | 48 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Nieuwendijk | 269 M | ||
| Turn left onto Beursplein | 893 M | ||
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3764 M | 3.8 KM | |
| Head northwest on Boulevard Bankert | 1.1 KM | ||
| Make a slight left | 67 M | ||
| Turn left onto Nollehoofd | 9 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Zwanenburg | 974 M | ||
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776 M | 0.8 KM | |
| Head northeast on Galgeweg | 775 M | ||
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3532 M | 3.5 KM | |
| Head northeast | 36 M | ||
| Turn left onto Galgeweg | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Vlissingsestraat | 346 M | ||
| Turn left | 22 M | ||
| Continue onto Jacoba van Beierenweg | 449 M | ||
| Continue straight | 98 M | ||
| Continue onto Jacoba van Beierenweg | 932 M | ||
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3269 M | 3.3 KM | |
| Head north on Bunkerpad | 1.4 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Abeelseweg | 974 M | ||
| Turn right | 96 M | ||
| Continue onto Koudekerkseweg | 298 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Koudekerkseweg | 14 M | ||
| Continue onto Kruisweg | 448 M | ||
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1600 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head west on Breeweg | 10 M | ||
| Turn right onto Laurens Stommesweg | 173 M | ||
| Continue straight | 501 M | ||
| Turn left | 11 M | ||
| Continue onto Laurens Stommesweg | 905 M | ||
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584 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head north on Laurens Stommespad | 561 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Schotelweg | 23 M | ||
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1353 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head northwest on Schotelweg | 26 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Zandvoortweg | 1.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 54 | 0 M | ||
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2440 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head north on Zandvoortseweg | 598 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Ossenbergweg | 978 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Jacob Catsweg | 864 M | ||
| You are now at section 21 | 0 M | ||
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23
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2374 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head northwest on Steengrachtsweg | 22 M | ||
| Turn right onto Steengrachtsweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| Make a slight right onto Molembaixweg | 964 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zoetendaalseweg | 174 M | ||
| You are now at section 23 | 0 M | ||
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1523 M | 1.5 KM | |
| Head east on van Vollenhovenweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Oostkapelseweg | 140 M | ||
| Turn left onto Torenstraat | 298 M | ||
| You are now at section 24 | 0 M | ||
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25
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2579 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head northeast on Vrouwenpolderseweg | 537 M | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Vrouwenpolderseweg | 140 M | ||
| Turn left onto Vrouwenpolderseweg | 1.9 KM | ||
| Turn left to stay on Vrouwenpolderseweg | 34 M | ||
| You are now at section 25 | 0 M | ||
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25
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26
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3094 M | 3.1 KM | |
| Head northwest | 298 M | ||
| Turn right onto Parallelweg N57 West | 263 M | ||
| Turn right onto Boshoekweg | 583 M | ||
| Turn right onto Huismanweg | 732 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Meiwerfweg | 18 M | ||
| Turn left onto Lepelstraat | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 26 | 0 M | ||
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27
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1091 M | 1.1 KM | |
| Head north on Lijdijkweg | 42 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Oranjezonweg | 575 M | ||
| Turn right onto Munnikweg | 467 M | ||
| Turn left onto Koningin Emmaweg | 7 M | ||
| You are now at section 27 | 0 M | ||
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30
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3551 M | 3.6 KM | |
| Head northeast | 256 M | ||
| Turn left onto Koningin Emmaweg | 131 M | ||
| Turn right | 381 M | ||
| Continue onto Noorddijk | 1.3 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Vroondijk | 353 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Vroondijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 30 | 0 M |