Road trip through Zeeland – also for winter
Rain or shine: a road trip through Zeeland is never a bad idea! Nowhere in the Netherlands will you find as many beaches, (peninsulas) islands and seals as here. Besides the fact that there is plenty to do in the summer, there is also plenty to do in the winter. A combination of city and beach, all in one weekend. The best way to get some fresh air is in Zeeland.
But where do we start this trip? What are we all going to do? And where should we go for all kinds of goodies? We have collected it for you below. A planned road trip through Zeeland, especially for the winter.
If you have to come from far away, it is advisable to get in the car early today. Set course for the southernmost part of Zeeland and discover the town of Groede. Staying at B&B In the Morelleput and get a breath of fresh air in Cadzand-Bad. Here's how to spend a day in West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen by car and get the best tips. Or at least it could be.
Greed – Cute and cozy, with narrow streets and a nice square with a few hotspots. Maybe a bit early for beer, but The Three Kings is a nice food/beer café. Inside you get a brown pub feeling, even if you order a cup of coffee. The Record Bar is also a good stop, but they are only open on weekends! Nice oldskool purpose there, and with new and used LPs, books and nice (music) gifts. You will find it in the basement Filmhuis Groede, a small cinema for up to 23 people. They also have an afternoon performance on the first Sunday of the month, ideal when the weather is pouring down.
West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is fun! That is why we have collected many more tips for this part of the Netherlands in this Barts Best of West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen list.
To the beach – Opposite Strandpaviljoen Proost (which is closed in the winter) is a parking lot. From there you can walk along the beach in about 20 minutes to Beach pavilion De Boekanier, which are open on weekends. Hair in the wind, accidentally getting a wet sock and then warming up with a hot chocolate.
B&B In the Morelleput – The estate is located adjacent to a nature reserve, a stone's throw from the sea and surrounded by the Zeeland dikes In the Morelleput. The B&B with four rooms (some have a box bed!) is located in the rural house and you have a fresh breakfast every morning.
Ferini in Nieuwvliet – Is it a shop? Is it a cycle? Is it a theater? Is it a gallery? Is it a village hall? Well, actually Ferini is a little bit of everything. Mostly a vintage and antique shop, filled to the brim with wonderfully beautiful things.
Darling Little Escape - The treasure hunters of the Darling in the Nine Streets found a treasure in Waterlandkerkje. The house was of course also decorated with treasures and is entirely for you and your party when you stay there.
From In de Morelleput you can reach Cadzand-Bad, the southernmost seaside resort in the Netherlands, within a ten-minute drive. Here you will find many nice beach bars, for example Beach club Moio, and restaurants to have a drink or eat. You will also find plenty of nice spots on the boulevard, including the hip ones Brasserie LouLou. Here you can eat good and honest dishes for fair prices. Loulou is one of those authentic brasseries where you can 'just' eat well. A lot of focus on vegetarian and vegan (you can get that in more places), but at Loulou they go the extra mile. Or join us Bistro Beaufort: here you can eat the tastiest fish soup ever.
One of the nicest hotels is right (but literally) on the beach Beach hotel Cadzand-Bad. A wonderfully mundane atmosphere that belongs to Knokke, a little further away, combined with the down-to-earth atmosphere of the Netherlands. The best of both worlds and the wildly attractive Strandhotel forms the unmissable epi-center. Beach hotel Cadzand-Bad.
Boutique Cottage de Phezant – Neat and well organized down to the last detail, a crackling stove and all kinds of cozy things nearby; that's a nice place Boutique Cottage De Phezant in Zuidzande. The Cottage sleeps six people (three spacious bedrooms and two bathrooms) and is beautiful. The handmade oak kitchen is connected to the living room, which is fully equipped. The eye-catcher? The large windows with a view over the polder. Restaurant Zilt&Zout is a 10-minute drive away, in Retranchement, and the restaurant is as beautiful as the name of the town it is located in (and the food as good!).
Not suitable for one night (can be booked from a minimum of three) but a very handy spot if you do not want to sleep in different hotels, but want to explore West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
No car of your own? No problem! Car sharing is hot and handy.
The early bird can do and see most of it. So get in the car early to Middelburg (about an hour's drive from Nieuwvliet/Zuidzande)! A beautiful historic city with old merchant houses, nice shops, nice coffee spots and a lot of special streets and alleys.
Breakfast – A good start is half the battle, if we say so ourselves. Start your day with The teacher of Luke, both cozy bakeries where bread and pastries are baked in the traditional way.
Lunch – Bij Voice you have come to the right place if you are ready for an extensive lunch and they serve it with a good cup of coffee. With the always good Café Cliché or colorful, girly but cool HoneyPie teahouse you can also sit down for some tasty treats.
Shop - InMiddels is a beautiful concept store for everything: jewelry, funny cards and beautiful things for the home. Same with Maison de la Mer. This wonderful concept store is one from the category 'house by the sea, beach, sky, powder shades, linen, cotton' and that looks exactly like what we want a Zeeland home furnishing store to be.
Middelburg Winter City – Skating under the tower of the old town hall, special winter markets, a visual advent tour and there is even a real stew week: the stewing stews! Middelburg embraces winter to the max and that is oh so cozy and cozy. From November 29, 2023 to January 13, 2024 you can stroll around with the whole gang in Middelburg Winter City.
Restaurant VERT – For dinner you go to GREEN. Vegetables from Dutch soil play the leading role here, the menu is based on the seasons. In addition to vegetables and natural wine, they also have homemade drinks.
City Hotel Wood – Warm and modern, that is Cityhotel Wood. The hotel owes that title to the sawmill company that was housed there years ago and in the rooms you will find various wooden details: the entire hotel looks like a piece of cake. In the hotel restaurant, The Greenroom, vegetables have the leading role, and they work with as many unprocessed, pure products as possible and yes, that is very tasty. The Achter de Houttuinen parking garage is 20 meters away.
Eclectic Hotel Copper & Co – This copper, richly decorated building including French balcony and neck gable makes Copper & Co romantic with a Zeeland touch. And the furnishings? Elegant and comfortable in a light-tinted blue-pink jacket and in combination with wood elements.
Hotel Princenjacht – Spend your night at a small-scale boutique hotel Princenjact, right in the center. With a bit of luck you will look out over the Middelburg marina. Each room is unique, stylishly decorated and equipped with every comfort. Perfect spot in the heart of Middelburg.
A day in Middelburg is so full, but if you want to get some fresh air, Domburg, a 20-minute drive away, is the right place for that. Beach, sea and plenty of places to warm up.
Oaxaca Beach Club – Looking for a trendy beach club? Then you're in Oaxaca check. Everything is beige and finished with wood details, it doesn't get more zen than that. They also serve a Oaxacan hot chocolate that will make you feel extra warm. The menu? A combination of dishes from the land and from the sea, including a view over the beach.
In Domburg you will find the Beer & Milk Parlor, a hip (organic) food spot with a small shop (stock up on all those milk jugs!) and courtyard. Expand your clothing collection? From is perhaps the most beautiful fashion store with its own label from all over Zeeland. No boring clothes, but really nice (plus unique) brands. You know, Humanoid, Mr. Mittens and CAES. All items are timeless, in neutral colors and made from the most beautiful fabrics.
The Classroom – Whoop! A tea garden that is open in winter! A ten-minute drive from Domburg to this tea garden in Oostkapelle. You can have tea (or coffee) and cake in a former greenhouse. A perfect stopover for a short break. They will only be closed for a month from January 6. Come on.
Bye-bye, wave wave Middelburg and continue to a tour of Walcheren. A 66 kilometer long trip on zigzagging roads around the peninsula. You will visit, among other things natural forest Nolle-westduin and the Nollebos. A nice one to-do, especially during the winter months; nice and warm in the car with the whole gang. Put on your coat, put on Christmas music and go with that banana. Tour of Walcheren.
We stop for lunch Goes. There is a beautiful harbor with cute facades along the quay. Nice to walk through and take some pictures.
Now that we're close: Inter Scaldes! You've come to the right place for a culinary experience. Make a reservation at the three-star restaurant, an experience toh the max. Planning to stay? That's possible. This place has entered into a partnership with Pillow Hotels: you can sleep in one of the twelve Pillow Suites. You can also have lunch here on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Inter Scaldes
Anyone who likes charming and well-organized towns will certainly find what they are looking for in Zierikzee. The center is reminiscent of the narrow streets in the city center of Maastricht. A historic place in the city is the old harbor with the remaining city walls. A tip if you want to know more about the history of Zierikzee: it Town Hall Museum.
Mr. Nilsson – on the large and cozy Havenplein. You can also enjoy a remarkably good breakfast and lunch in Zierikzee Mr. Nilsson, a contemporary address that would not look out of place in the Randstad. Not that the Randstad is holy now, mind you! Coffee to write home about, homemade granola and vintage lampshades that... brick wall and complement the rugged counter made of corrugated iron so nicely.
Love from Ziekerzee is a fun, colorful concept store and Rookoo a nice spot for coffee and cake when you're ready for a break or before you get back in the car.
Photo credits left @heyfrits
We're not going home, not for a while anyway. If you have the chance, extend your road trip with an extra night at Country estate De Weelde in Noordwelle. The country house meets a lot of requirements. Swimming pool (unfortunately closed in the winter, but a good excuse to come back in the summer), living room, pub, eat-in kitchen, chill-out area; all hidden in a beautiful building with a large piece of land around it. Good place to make a successful road trip even more successful.
If you're really into the road trip vibe right now, then the book '12 road trips through the Netherlands' by Hey Frits, a very good one to grab!
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