Nine rooms at the Hulst Museum, 3.5 kilometres of ramparts and a guided climb up the basilica tower reveal the history of the fortified town at different scales. Between its buildings, museum and paths, you can explore Hulst according to your interests: focusing on architecture, Reynaert stories or the surrounding area.

Museum, Basilica and Buildings

Since June 2022, the Hulst Museum and Tourist Information Centre have been housed in the ’s-Landshuis. The building was probably built in the second half of the 16th century as the administrative seat of the magistracy of Hulsterambacht; its present form dates from the mid-17th century. The triptych “Mozes en de Wetstafelen” is on display in the building. The museum’s permanent exhibition takes visitors through nine rooms featuring stories about Oost-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. An audio tour is available in Dutch, English and German; the children’s audio tour is also available in these three languages.

The H. Willibrordus Basilica stands in the heart of the fortified town and was built in the Brabant Gothic style. Construction began in the 13th century, and the basilica was extensively expanded over the following centuries. If you would like to see Hulst from above, you can climb the tower on a guided tour: the view stretches across the surrounding area from a height of 60 metres. The sculpture group “Als de vos de passie preekt” also stands at the corner of the basilica and the Grote Markt.

The gates and mill also bring the history of the town’s architecture to life. The Dubbele Poort has three vaulted, brick-built passageways, set into the earthen rampart of the fortifications like tunnels. A date stone on its landward parapet gives 1771 as the construction year of the western section. The Stadsmolen on the Molenbolwerk is a round stone tower mill with a rotating cap. Built in 1792, it is listed as a Rijksmonument.

Ramparts and Walking Routes

Hulst’s ramparts are 3.5 kilometres long. They were built during the Eighty Years’ War and have been fully restored. Together with the town moat, they shape the character of the historic fortified town and offer views from the ramparts. A complete circuit on different levels takes about an hour. The paths on the ramparts are wide, paved and easily accessible for wheelchair users.

The 3-kilometre “Wandelen door vestingstad Hulst” route runs along the fortifications and past monuments, works of art and old gates. The route length describes a specific trail, while the time estimate refers to a complete circuit of the ramparts on different levels. When planning, you can therefore take into account both the length of the signposted route and the approximate time needed for the circuit of the ramparts.

Reynaert Stories and Special Visits

You will encounter Reynaert at several places in Hulst. A Reynaert monument has stood in the town since 1938: it was first placed in the market square and moved in 1945 to a spot just outside the Gentsepoort. The Pagadders, figures of Spanish soldiers, are spread throughout the town centre and tell visitors about an exciting period in the history of the fortified town. Children can follow a Reynaert treasure hunt in the fortress, with activities along the route.

Those interested in burial culture can request a guided tour of the cemetery on Zoutestraat. The Working Group for Funeral Heritage offers these tours on request. The oldest part of the cemetery has significant cultural and historical value. This experience differs from a walk around the gates or ramparts: it focuses on the history of the cemetery, and the tour must be requested in advance.

Routes and Landscapes in the Wider Area

For a longer drive, the approximately 100-kilometre Reynaertroute starts in Hulst. This driving route passes through Oost-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen and the north of the Waasland region. Hulst also offers longer and shorter routes for recreational cyclists through woods, polders and tulip fields. These options offer different experiences: the Reynaertroute is a drive by car, while the cycling routes are designed for shorter or longer rides.

In the wider area around Hulst, small villages and expansive fields meet a long sea dike along the Westerschelde, brackish-water nature in the Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe and woods near the Belgian border. These landscape descriptions refer to the wider area around Hulst and complement the view of the town’s buildings and paths. When choosing activities, you can weigh up the history of the fortress in town against the different landscapes nearby.

Discover more destinations: Vogelwaarde, Kloosterzande, Lamswaarde, Heikant, Graauw, Walsoorden, Hengstdijk, Terhole.

Go to the main travel overview: Hulst.