Zeeuwse handelsgeest op Zuid-Beveland
Yerseke, Kapelle, Hoedekenskerke
Does the world-famous Dutch spirit of trade originate from Zeeland? Trade is in Zeeland's blood. Thanks to the presence of water, trading has been done here for centuries. On this Cycle route, you will discover how enterprising and innovative the Zeelanders on Zuid-Beveland still are, with a visit to a mussel auction and a restaurant with a helicopter pad. Traditionally, Zeeland has been a region of much trade and activity. As early as the Iron Age, salt mining took place here to preserve foodstuffs for longer. With the arrival of the Romans, salt production increased further. Salt, as well as fish sauce and canned shellfish, were traded overseas with Britain and distributed along the rivers and trade routes to Gaul and the Germanic regions. In the Middle Ages, Flemish abbeys hold the reins firmly in Zeeland. Using their knowledge, they professionalise salt extraction and try to gain land by reclamation. Meanwhile, a number of ports grow into international trading ports. Trade was brisk in Middelburg, Zierikzee, Veere, Sluis, Hulst and Kortgene. Wine, wood and all kinds of products from Scotland such as wool, linen, salmon and leather were imported and transited. In 1585, the fall of Antwerp ushered in a Golden Age for Zeeland. Many merchants and craftsmen migrated from the South to Zeeland and Holland, giving a strong boost to trade and shipping. Middelburg grows into an important port city and, alongside Amsterdam, becomes a centre of the VOC and the WIC. In the 17th century, Zeeland benefits fully from the Republic's international trade routes. Around 1800, several ports lose their trading links due to increasing competition from Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the economic decline of the Republic and the effects of the Napoleonic Wars. Maritime activities decline, and Zeeland focuses more on inland waterways, agriculture and land reclamation. In the countryside, food supplies for the cities have been fanatically provided for ages. In Zuid-Beveland, the focus turns to mussel farming and oyster culture. From 1870, rich oyster barons come to Yerseke to cultivate oysters. There is briefly a kind of gold rush: fortune seekers flock to Yerseke to make money in the oyster trade. When the first setbacks follow, only a few traders remain. For every problem, they find a solution. Yerseke has since grown into a major player in the fish industry and boasts the only mussel auction in the world. On land, Zeeland's clay and climate prove perfect for orchards. Pears, apples, cherries, blackcurrants and plums are doing particularly well in Zuid-Beveland. A tasting station was established in Wilhelminadorp to which the still-popular Elstar and Jonagold owe their quality. Today, Zeeland has more than 4,000 hectares of orchards. This gives it the most orchards per surface area in the whole of the Netherlands. When it comes to tourism, Zeeland is also growing into a powerhouse. Year on year, tourism records are broken. In recent years, some 2.8 million tourists stayed overnight on the Bevelanden. Local entrepreneurs understand well how to combine their business activities with tourism. For example, a visit to the historic oyster pits in Yerseke is a popular destination. The fruit trees that adorn the landscape when in bloom also manage to attract tourists. In 2012, the Eastern Scheldt was declared a National Park. By organising all kinds of fun activities such as boat trips and diving courses, Zeeland's entrepreneurs are once again responding skilfully to demand. This premium itinerary was compiled by our editor: Elwin Croeze.
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Molendijk , 4401 CN Yerseke | 51.6 KM | |
|
From
63
to
62
|
537 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head northeast on Molendijk | 14 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Havendijk | 523 M | ||
| You are now at section 62 | 0 M | ||
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From
62
to
64
|
995 M | 1 KM | |
| Head northwest on Havendijk | 18 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Groeninx van Zoelenstraat | 805 M | ||
| Turn left onto Burenpolderweg | 172 M | ||
| You are now at section 64 | 0 M | ||
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From
64
to
58
|
3119 M | 3.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Dam | 503 M | ||
| Turn right onto Steeweg | 300 M | ||
| Turn left onto Steeweg | 409 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Steeweg | 1.9 KM | ||
| You are now at section 58 | 0 M | ||
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From
58
to
57
|
3198 M | 3.2 KM | |
| Head northwest on Reeweg | 720 M | ||
| Turn right onto Schelvrijwegeling | 1.4 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Postweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 57 | 0 M | ||
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From
57
to
55
|
623 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head west on Postweg | 27 M | ||
| Continue straight | 326 M | ||
| Turn right | 270 M | ||
| You are now at section 55 | 0 M | ||
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From
55
to
56
|
963 M | 1 KM | |
| Head north | 814 M | ||
| Continue straight | 149 M | ||
| You are now at section 56 | 0 M | ||
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From
56
to
59
|
594 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head north | 138 M | ||
| Turn left onto Hovijweg | 104 M | ||
| Turn left onto Westelijke Kanaalweg | 37 M | ||
| Turn right onto Zwaakseweg | 315 M | ||
| You are now at section 59 | 0 M | ||
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From
59
to
52
|
2600 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head southwest on Bredeweg | 785 M | ||
| Turn right onto Lurpseweg | 821 M | ||
| Turn right onto Klapweg | 994 M | ||
| You are now at section 52 | 0 M | ||
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From
52
to
54
|
1280 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head south on Sint Janspad | 436 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 18 M | ||
| Continue onto Sint Janspad | 289 M | ||
| Turn left onto Weelmeet | 537 M | ||
| You are now at section 54 | 0 M | ||
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From
54
to
53
|
1771 M | 1.8 KM | |
| Head west on Spaartweg | 400 M | ||
| Turn right onto Noordweg | 450 M | ||
| Continue straight | 25 M | ||
| Turn left | 67 M | ||
| Turn right towards Kapelle | 538 M | ||
| Turn right onto Ooststraat | 17 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kerkplein | 274 M | ||
| You are now at section 53 | 0 M | ||
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From
53
to
46
|
3717 M | 3.7 KM | |
| Head northwest on Goessestraatweg | 323 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kitskinderscheweg | 197 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Kitskinderscheweg | 215 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Kitskinderscheweg | 20 M | ||
| Turn left onto Weg naar het stomme kruis | 129 M | ||
| Turn right onto Spoorpad | 467 M | ||
| Turn left onto Verlorenwegje | 586 M | ||
| Turn right onto Dijkwelseweg | 1.8 KM | ||
| You are now at section 46 | 0 M | ||
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From
46
to
79
|
2448 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on Wrangeweg | 2.4 KM | ||
| You are now at section 79 | 0 M | ||
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From
79
to
77
|
1411 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on Populierestraat | 332 M | ||
| Turn left onto Langeweg | 757 M | ||
| Turn left onto 's-Gravenstraat | 322 M | ||
| You are now at section 77 | 0 M | ||
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From
77
to
78
|
237 M | 0.2 KM | |
| Head southeast on Bosseweide | 237 M | ||
| You are now at section 78 | 0 M | ||
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From
78
to
73
|
1157 M | 1.2 KM | |
| Head south on Bosseweide | 58 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Lenshoekdijk | 835 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto 's-Gravenpoldersestraat | 264 M | ||
| You are now at section 73 | 0 M | ||
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From
73
to
97
|
1865 M | 1.9 KM | |
| Head southwest on 's-Gravenpoldersestraat | 356 M | ||
| Turn right onto Baarlandsezandweg | 7 M | ||
| Turn left | 8 M | ||
| Turn right onto Baarlandsezandweg | 263 M | ||
| Keep left onto Baarlandsezandweg | 22 M | ||
| Turn left onto Langeweegje | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 97 | 0 M | ||
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From
97
to
72
|
4080 M | 4.1 KM | |
| Head southeast on Siguitsedijk | 217 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Aalweg | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Molenstraat | 403 M | ||
| Turn right onto Noord Deeweg | 57 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zuiddeeweg | 141 M | ||
| Turn right onto Ganzepoelweg | 608 M | ||
| Turn left onto Waardweg | 744 M | ||
| Turn right onto Veerweg | 297 M | ||
| You are now at section 72 | 0 M | ||
|
From
72
to
33
|
1449 M | 1.4 KM | |
| Head northeast on Nieuwe Veerweg | 536 M | ||
| Make a sharp right onto Havenstraat | 43 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zee en inlaagdijk Hoedekenskerke | 61 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Zee en inlaagdijk Hoedekenskerke | 809 M | ||
| You are now at section 33 | 0 M | ||
|
From
33
to
75
|
1585 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head northeast on Zee en inlaagdijk Hoedekenskerke | 1.6 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Nieuwe Hoondertsedijk | 20 M | ||
| You are now at section 75 | 0 M | ||
|
From
75
to
74
|
1041 M | 1 KM | |
| Head north on Nieuwe Hoondertsedijk | 308 M | ||
| Turn right onto Oosterzwakedijk | 733 M | ||
| You are now at section 74 | 0 M | ||
|
From
74
to
71
|
298 M | 0.3 KM | |
| Head north on Populierendijk | 298 M | ||
| You are now at section 71 | 0 M | ||
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From
71
to
70
|
485 M | 0.5 KM | |
| Head northeast on Hooidijk | 485 M | ||
| You are now at section 70 | 0 M | ||
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From
70
to
83
|
3390 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on 's-Gravenpolderse Oudedijk | 1.1 KM | ||
| Keep right onto 's-Gravenpolderse Oudedijk | 278 M | ||
| Keep left onto 's-Gravenpolderse Oudedijk | 199 M | ||
| Keep right onto 's-Gravenpolderse Oudedijk | 1.2 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Eversdijkseweg | 615 M | ||
| You are now at section 83 | 0 M | ||
|
From
83
to
84
|
4173 M | 4.2 KM | |
| Head south | 35 M | ||
| Turn right | 30 M | ||
| Turn left onto Nieuwe Schoorseweg | 1.8 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Frisostraat | 315 M | ||
| Turn right onto Steenweg | 582 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Maarten Broersweg | 914 M | ||
| Turn right onto Maartenbroersweg | 159 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Maartenbroersweg | 351 M | ||
| You are now at section 84 | 0 M | ||
|
From
84
to
85
|
1701 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head northeast on Boomdijk | 272 M | ||
| Continue slightly left onto Europastraat | 116 M | ||
| Continue straight | 177 M | ||
| Turn right | 326 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 132 M | ||
| Turn right | 258 M | ||
| Turn left onto Scheldemond | 304 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kanaalweg | 116 M | ||
| You are now at section 85 | 0 M | ||
|
From
85
to
86
|
2730 M | 2.7 KM | |
| Head northeast on Kanaalweg | 9 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Zanddijk | 120 M | ||
| Keep left onto Zanddijk | 925 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Zanddijk | 86 M | ||
| Turn left | 18 M | ||
| Turn right onto Zanddijk | 147 M | ||
| Continue straight | 167 M | ||
| Turn right | 28 M | ||
| Turn right | 61 M | ||
| Turn right | 23 M | ||
| Continue onto Zanddijk | 4 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Zanddijk | 438 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Zanddijk | 18 M | ||
| Continue straight | 16 M | ||
| Turn right | 252 M | ||
| Turn left onto Stationsweg | 341 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 77 M | ||
| You are now at section 86 | 0 M | ||
|
From
86
to
99
|
1043 M | 1 KM | |
| Head east | 7 M | ||
| Turn left onto Stationsweg | 477 M | ||
| Turn right onto Kaasgat | 559 M | ||
| You are now at section 99 | 0 M | ||
|
From
99
to
63
|
3104 M | 3.1 KM | |
| Head north on Kaasgat | 356 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Olzendedijk | 30 M | ||
| Turn right onto Molendijk | 80 M | ||
| Continue straight | 845 M | ||
| Continue straight | 223 M | ||
| Turn right onto Molendijkseweg | 598 M | ||
| Turn left onto Molenpolderweg | 972 M | ||
| You are now at section 63 | 0 M |