Walcheren's Revolt during the Eighty Years' War
Middelburg, Veere, Serooskerke
The Eighty Years' War left its mark on Walcheren. Today we will go in search of places that remind us of the battle fought here, in the sixteenth century, between the Spaniards and the Beggars, and discover what exactly took place in the area between, now so peaceful, Veere and Vrouwenpolder. During the Eighty Years' War, William of Orange fervently hoped for a revolt from the people. The capture of Den Briel on 1 April 1572 was a fluke. The city was only taken by the Beggars (Orangists) because the Spaniards were not present. On 6 April 1572, his wish for revolt came true on the island of Walcheren. The residents of Vlissingen do not want to shelter any more Spanish troops in the city. The angry mob manages to drive the Spaniards out of the city with the help of the Beggars. In the north of Walcheren, the fishermen from Veere also fancy a revolt. They have had a bad year and do not want Spanish soldiers in their town either. The fishermen see an opportunity to take one of the most important armouries in the Netherlands. This building for storing ammunition and artillery, including two thousand naval cannons, had been placed in Veere a few years earlier. Good booty, then. With the help of the Geuzen, Veere was finally taken on 3 May 1572. To really gain the upper hand on Walcheren, the Geuzen must also capture centrally located Middelburg. This town grew into an important port and trading centre in the 16th century. However, Middelburg is a Spanish stronghold and is defended by the Spaniards at all costs. This is the start of the Siege of Middelburg between 1572-1574. During this period, both sides attack each other back and forth. At the end of April 1572, for instance, some 1,100 Beggars, led by Jerome Tseraert, stormed Middelburg. The attack failed and they were forced to retreat a day later. On 7 May 1572, troops of the Duke of Alva arrived on the beach near Breezand in Vrouwenpolder. Within two hours, 1,000 Spanish soldiers march towards Middelburg. A day later, they capture nearby Arnemuiden from the Geuzen. The town is badly damaged and 400 are killed. After the takeover, the Spaniards come daily from Middelburg and Arnemuiden to the city walls of Veere. The Geuzen only just manage to repel the attacks and keep the Spaniards out of the town. Because the fortified towns were difficult to capture, the battle was mainly fought in the countryside. On 4 November 1572, for example, some 1,500 Beggars appeared at Westhove castle. The castle, which gave shelter to the Catholic bishop Nicolas de Castro before the siege, was captured, looted and then set on fire. The attacks continue in 1573 as well. The Geuzen conquer almost all of Walcheren and cut off all trade routes to Middelburg. This causes ever-increasing food shortages within Middelburg's city walls. By Christmas, the food shortage is so acute that 1,500 civilians and soldiers die. By now, everything somewhat edible has been eaten, even pets. Money is also running out. The Spanish colonel Christobal de Mondragon, who has to defend Middelburg, sees no choice but to end the siege of Middelburg. On 4 February 1574, negotiations start between William of Orange and the Spanish colonel at Fort Rammekens. After some threats back and forth, including the Spanish colonel setting fire to the whole of Middelburg, the peace treaty was signed on 19 February 1574. All Spanish soldiers and the Catholic clergy were allowed to leave Middelburg. After the fall of Middelburg in 1574, all of Walcheren is in Orange hands. This premium route was compiled by our editor: Elwin Croeze
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
|
Start: Vroonweg , 4354 NL Veere | 34.2 KM | |
|
From
30
to
31
|
3209 M | 3.2 KM | |
| 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 | ||
| You are now at section 31 | 0 M | ||
|
From
31
to
32
|
1282 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head south on Polredijk | 1.3 KM | ||
| You are now at section 32 | 0 M | ||
|
From
32
to
36
|
2581 M | 2.6 KM | |
| Head southeast on Polredijk | 1.7 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Langedam | 217 M | ||
| Turn left onto Warwijcksestraat | 225 M | ||
| Turn right onto Bastion | 17 M | ||
| Turn left onto Kaai | 458 M | ||
| You are now at section 36 | 0 M | ||
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From
36
to
34
|
601 M | 0.6 KM | |
| Head southeast on Oranjeplein | 164 M | ||
| Continue slightly right onto Oudestraat | 347 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Veerseweg | 90 M | ||
| You are now at section 34 | 0 M | ||
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From
34
to
62
|
3393 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head southwest on Veerseweg | 743 M | ||
| Turn left | 9 M | ||
| Turn right | 93 M | ||
| Turn left onto Zanddijkseweg | 2.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 62 | 0 M | ||
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From
62
to
5
|
4200 M | 4.2 KM | |
| Head southeast on Zanddijkseweg | 2.4 KM | ||
| Make a slight right onto Kleverskerksepad | 108 M | ||
| Make a slight left | 204 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Veerseweg | 215 M | ||
| Turn left onto Veerseweg | 484 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 47 M | ||
| Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit | 33 M | ||
| Exit the roundabout | 41 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Veerseweg | 332 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Veersesingel | 50 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Nederstraat | 233 M | ||
| Turn right onto Rotterdamsekaai | 74 M | ||
| You are now at section 05 | 0 M | ||
|
From
5
to
59
|
984 M | 1 KM | |
| Head west on Rotterdamsekaai | 257 M | ||
| Turn right onto Molstraat | 356 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Koepoortstraat | 39 M | ||
| Turn right onto Koepoortlaan | 111 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Veersesingel | 221 M | ||
| You are now at section 59 | 0 M | ||
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From
59
to
37
|
2396 M | 2.4 KM | |
| Head northwest on Parklaan | 61 M | ||
| Turn right onto Nadorstweg | 585 M | ||
| Turn right onto Prooijenseweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Prooijenseweg | 677 M | ||
| You are now at section 37 | 0 M | ||
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From
37
to
61
|
252 M | 0.3 KM | |
| Head east on Golsteinseweg | 252 M | ||
| You are now at section 61 | 0 M | ||
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From
61
to
33
|
1611 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head north on Schellachseweg | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 33 | 0 M | ||
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From
33
to
24
|
3355 M | 3.4 KM | |
| Head west on Eendekotsweg | 1.1 KM | ||
| Make a slight left onto Wattelsweg | 19 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Wattelsweg | 968 M | ||
| Turn right onto Gapingseweg | 31 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Gapingseweg | 495 M | ||
| Turn right onto Noordweg | 753 M | ||
| You are now at section 24 | 0 M | ||
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From
24
to
25
|
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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From
25
to
26
|
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 | ||
|
From
26
to
27
|
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 | ||
|
From
27
to
30
|
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 |