Almost 150 kilometres of walking trails lead across Noord-Beveland to mudflats, salt marshes, inlagen and authentic villages. The island lies between the North Sea, Oosterschelde National Park and Veerse Meer, and has around 50 kilometres of coastline. From Banjaardstrand, by far the island’s largest beach, you can see the Oosterscheldekering and look out across the North Sea. The coast and water shape not only the views but also the many ways to explore the landscape on foot or by bike.
Walking between the coast and villages
The “Eindeloos Eiland” walking junction network covers almost 150 kilometres of trails and takes you through a wide variety of landscapes. Destinations include mudflats and salt marshes, as well as inlagen and authentic villages. Inlagen are areas between the dikes and are a distinctive feature of the landscape. Behind the dikes are wet inlagen where you can spot many birds; bird hides and screens provide specific places to watch them. Please observe local access rules.
A shorter, themed option is the four-kilometre “Uniek” Parelroute. It starts at Havenstraat 15 in Colijnsplaat and combines a walk with an interactive activity: answer questions and collect letters to form a word at the end. The route also tells how Colijnsplaat was spared during the 1953 North Sea flood. Check trail conditions before your visit.
Colijnsplaat: streetscape and Roman history
Colijnsplaat has a protected village streetscape of particular cultural and historical significance. Its approximately 240-metre-long Voorstraat is the main axis of the geometric historic street plan. Lime trees and older, often white-rendered buildings line the street. The compact streetscape can also be read as part of the village’s history.
You can also encounter Roman history in Colijnsplaat: the reconstructed Nehalennia Temple was dedicated to the goddess Nehalennia, protector of seafaring and trade. Beside the temple stands the reconstructed Roman cargo ship Caudicaria. Caudicaria Navis is a freely accessible open-air monument and can be viewed free of charge; check local access conditions before your visit. In the 1970s, around 330 altars to Nehalennia were recovered from the water near Colijnsplaat. The region’s Roman history also includes the important port town of Ganuenta, which was then located on the island of Orisant in the Oosterschelde.
In Colijnsplaat, GalleryMaritime adds a contemporary touch: the gallery specialises in maritime art and presents several changing exhibitions each year featuring works by experienced professional maritime artists. The changing exhibitions offer a different way to engage with the area’s maritime character.
Cycling routes with different highlights
The 36-kilometre “Ontdek Noord-Beveland” route follows the island’s contours and passes through Kortgene, Wissenkerke, Kats and Colijnsplaat. The mountain bike routes differ in both length and the landscapes they cover: the eastern route is 21 kilometres long, marked with red arrows, and offers a view of the Zeelandbrug near Colijnsplaat. The western route is 27 kilometres long; it takes in views of the North Sea, Oosterschelde and Veerse Meer, and is marked in blue.
The 37-kilometre Noord-Beveland Midden MTB route runs alongside Veerse Meer, through the inland area and along the Oosterschelde; in places, it loops around the Goudplaat. Green arrows mark the route. Most dikes also have a cycle path running along the water on the seaward side. The Zeelandbrug has a cycle path as well. The routes’ different lengths and markings help you choose based on distance and landscape, without assuming a particular journey time.
The island’s connections have also changed: until 1960, Noord-Beveland could only be reached by boat. Today it is connected to the mainland by the Zeelandbrug and the Oosterscheldekering. Check road and bridge conditions separately before travelling.
Water activities and local discoveries
There are 17 islands in Veerse Meer, five of which are reserved specifically for birds. The remaining islands are open to visitors and offer play meadows and walking woods; follow local conditions and signage. Noord-Beveland also offers opportunities for surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, wakeboarding and water skiing. Several surf schools provide lessons, but availability may vary by season.
Schotsman Watersportcentrum in Kamperland has a cable water-ski lift and an aquapark with an obstacle course on the water. As facilities and activities are managed by the operator, they may change. For larger groups, the centre organises banana boat rides, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding; check the programme and make reservations directly with the operator. You can also book a walk with donkeys from Kamperland. Booking is required, and availability may vary.
In Kortgene, a fully restored mill dating from 1873 is used to produce and sell regional products. In Kamperland, you can sample Zeeuws Emelissebier; copper brewing kettles from a former brewery can still be seen in one of the buildings. Events also add a cultural dimension to your trip: the Colijnsplaatse Dagen have been held on the second weekend of August since 2003 and were formerly known as Visserijdagen. The Peerock Festival has taken place on the last Saturday in July since 1994. Check the programme for each year before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Colijnsplaat, Kamperland, Kortgene, Wissenkerke, Geersdijk, Stroodorp, Kats, Kapelle.
For the broader travel overview: Zeeland.
