Biervliet’s history is reflected in a range of themes: from the shape of a former fortress and historic buildings to places of remembrance and the tradition of herring gutting. Woodland paths and seasonal town tours also offer different ways to get to know the town and its surroundings.

Fortress, Mill and Town Hall

The former fortress of Biervliet was a pentagonal earthwork with a bastion at each corner. De Harmonie tells another part of the town’s history: the round, stone windmill with an earth mound was originally built as a gallery windmill and set up as an oil mill in 1842. It underwent extensive restoration in 1985/86 and again in 2023/24; it is no longer operated commercially. The Oude Raedthuys is also a historic building: it was built as a town hall in 1806.

Church and Herring Gutting

The Nederlands Hervormde Kerk is Biervliet’s oldest building and was completed in 1659/60. The church contains three restored stained-glass windows designed and made by Middelburg glass painter Cornelis van Barlaer. The Biervlietraam depicts Willem Beukelsz., who is considered the inventor of herring gutting. There is also a statue in the market square in honour of Willem Beukelszoon, regarded as Biervliet’s best-known resident.

Local History and Remembrance

The Trefpunt houses an interactive model of Biervliet’s built-up area at a scale of 1:300. It shows the medieval town fortifications, the 17th-century fort and the homes of local business owners around 1940. The different time periods make the model a way to view several eras side by side.

A bronze plaque at the Korenbeurs lists the names of 42 victims of the wartime hostilities in 1940 and 1944. The Scheldeslag Museum Biervliet has a permanent exhibition on the history of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen during the Second World War. Check the museum’s current opening arrangements before visiting.

Woodland Paths and a Shorter Route Option

Near Biervliet is Poortbos, a 5.5-hectare woodland with planted fruit trees and ponds. It has walking and riding trails. The Zeeuws-Vlaanderen Family Trail offers a way to explore Biervliet; a paved section can be shortened to 0.8 kilometres. The options have different features: the family trail has a specific shorter route option, while Poortbos combines woodland scenery with walking and riding trails.

Town Tours and Festival Dates

The Stichting Behoud Monumenten Biervliet runs historical town tours every Tuesday afternoon during the summer months of July and August. They start at 14:00 at the Trefpunt and last about an hour and a half. As this is a seasonal activity, check the current schedule before travelling.

The Geuzenfeest is celebrated as an annual tradition. Every five years, a lustrum celebration with historical scenes takes place; the specific dates vary. For travel planning, the distinction is useful: the town tours follow a weekly summer schedule, while festival dates should be checked for the relevant period.

Discover more destinations: Hoek, Westdorpe, Koewacht, Philippine, Sluiskil, Sas Van Gent, Zaamslag, Terneuzen.

Back to the main travel overview: Terneuzen.