hotspots walcheren zeeland

Walcheren (Zeeland) Travel Guide: 52 X the best addresses from Middelburg to Vlissingen and from Oostkapelle to Vrouwenpolder

14 August 2024

Born and raised in Middelburg Walcheren, and yet there wasn't a dedicated travel guide about this Zeeland island on Your Little Black Book. Since Manuel was born, I've probably been here more often than in the past 18 years, so I thought it was time to compile all those tips for you in this great list of the best hotspots in Walcheren. From Middelburg to Vlissingen and from Oostkapelle to Vrouwenpolder! Walcheren isn't very big, so you can easily explore it during a long weekend or a week. A scenic drive along the coast, a breath of fresh air on the beach or in the woods. It all comes together in this Walcheren Travel Guide!

 | TIP: Are you looking for nice places to stay in Zeeland? Then check out this list >>

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MOOD 👀, I woke up really early today and was scrolling through my photos of Bangkok 🌴. Then I thought: how nice if we share our booked and wishlist destinations for inspiration? I have a safari in Malawi & Zimbabwe 🐆 in the books with a stopover in Nairobi. I'm also going to Paris for a few nights by train with Manuel. So excited! I'm going to visit all the Parisian clichés and more with him ✌🏼. Also on the wishlist: China (May holiday), a midweek trip to Athens & the coast (summer), London (always a good idea), Amalfi & Rome (Manuel's dream for the autumn holiday) & Japan (Christmas holiday including skiing, tips welcome ☺️). My resolution for 2026 is also to plan more fun day trips/nights away in the Netherlands. And I would love to go to Japan solo, but oh well... first I have to get back to work 😅😉. Speaking of which: Happy new week!! I'd love to dream about your travel plans. 😘 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
NEW YEAR'S DAY IN THE NETHERLANDS 🖤 March = the month in which my favorite Sunday markets start up again in full swing. So my Sunday plans are quickly made: stroll along stalls, discover new food trucks and go home with a bag full of organic produce or a great vintage find. What I like about it? Every market has its own vibe. • @feelgoodmarket for creativity and live music in Eindhoven • Vintage heaven at @ijhallen • @sundaymarket with creative makers and food trucks • Curated vintage & design gems at @cabinetamsterdam • @fairpricedvintage for scoring vintage clothing at many locations in NL Have fun! ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck Follow @yourlbb for the best markets, restaurants, travel guides and more tips to make the most of your free time. #zondagmarkt #markteninnederland #vintagemarket #weekendtips #yourlittleblackbook
If you only go to one terrace in Amsterdam this weekend, make it @caferestaurant.meyer! What a great addition to the Amstelveld 😍. Open from 10am, a very nice lunch menu, a wine list with a bottle of rosé for €20, but also olive ice cream with caviar (incredibly delicious!). I'll be back soon to try the evening menu too. Tip: you can make a reservation on the terrace! And did I mention there's a playground next door? Have a great weekend 😘 🖊️ @anne_de_buck PS: follow @yourlbb & @yourlbb.amsterdam for more Amsterdam tips and travel guides for destinations around the world. ___________________________________________ Best terrace in Amsterdam, best new terrace in Amsterdam, lunch in amsterdam, family friendly amsterdam
My fav spot for freddo cappuccino in Amsterdam that transports me back to Greece. Add a slice of spanakopita and you have the best breakfast to enjoy along the Amstel river. My motto for the coming spring is to take more walks, so expect a lot of recs for coffee and other drinks to go in this new series! ☀️ Where should I go next? ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck
**Due to COVID-19, souvenirs are now available in bulk ❄️ Note to self: always keep room in your suitcase for 'souvenirs'. During my ski trip to Méribel, I popped into the local pharmacy just before leaving, and these are the beauty products I took home. I've tested them extensively and they're all more than YLBB-approved. Save them for your next trip to France (or your online beauty store). Which souvenirs always make it back in your suitcase? I'm curious! ✖️✖️✖️ 🖊️ @anne_de_buck PS: Follow @yourlbb for tons of tips to make the most of your free time — from travel tips to travel guides and more.

Food & Drink // hotspots and best restaurants in Walcheren

Restaurant Scherp (Middelburg): When we have something to celebrate with the family, we do it at Restaurant Scherp in the picturesque Wijngaardstraat. Here, Chef Mart cooks with the finest ingredients the province has to offer. You can dine à la carte, but it's more fun (and even more delicious) to choose one of the set menus with paired wines.

 The Flying Deer (Middelburg): In this historic building, situated in one of Middelburg's most beautiful locations, you can learn more about wines (as well as beers and whiskeys). During a wine tasting, you'll sample a unique collection of wines from the vaulted cellar beneath the building.

The Teacher (Middelburg): At De Juf, you're welcome early in the morning for coffee and cake. All the delicious treats in this artisanal cookie and cake shop are made with 100% Zeeland wheat. For those with a sweet tooth, the high tea is highly recommended and also very enjoyable. Prefer a savory pie? That's also possible!

MORE RESTAURANTS IN MIDDELBURG

The Greenhouse (Oostkapelle): By far one of the best places in Walcheren for a bite to eat and a drink surrounded by greenery. A former greenhouse transformed into a lunch café. Go early for breakfast and you'll beat the crowds. Also fun with kids! There's a small playground at the back of the garden.

 

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Tea garden the Cookie Drum (Aagtekerke): Drinking tea and cake at the farm.

Alpaca Zeelandia (Aagtekerke): At Alpaca's Zeelandia, you can enjoy high tea among the animals. Ages 8 and up, with a minimum of 4 people. You can also take a walk with the alpacas before dinner!

Morel (Koudekerke): At Morille, they cook with nature's finest ingredients. Think foraged and home-grown produce. Pure, flavorful, and simple. The menu is small and changes almost daily to showcase the best of the season.

The Streefkerk House (Zoutelande): This fine dining restaurant is nestled high in the dunes of Zoutelande. It's a bit classic, but the dishes are top-notch. After dinner, you can just roll into bed, as this restaurant is located in a hotel.

Beer and Milk Salon (Domburg): Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Domburg's main street? Then grab a spot in the courtyard of the Bier en Melksalon. Everything at this hotspot is organic! From breakfast to lunch. Also great: they have a special children's breakfast and plenty of vegetarian options. For breakfast, try one of the egg dishes, and for lunch, the sandwiches with homemade spreads are highly recommended.

Restaurant Mezger (Domburg): Fancy a culinary evening? Then you must go to Mezger in Domburg. The restaurant is located between the two villas of Mezger Lodges Where you can also stay overnight. The interior is warm yet sleek, with beautiful Finnish wood. At the bar, you can see the oysters in containers that will later end up on your plate. Go to Mezger for a leisurely meal with a 4- to 7-course menu, and without the kids. Because trust me: you want to savor this food to the fullest.

MORE RESTAURANTS IN DOMBURG

St. Jacob's Café (Vlissingen): For drinks or a delicious bite to eat, head to Sint Jacobs Café in Vlissingen. You can also book a high wine, which includes a drinks platter and a selection of wines.

The Crowned Love (Vlissingen): This is the restaurant at the muZEEum in Vlissingen, but it's definitely worth popping in for a bite to eat and a drink. The interior is modern and bright, with many unique photos with a Zeeland twist on the walls.

The Mosque (Vlissingen): This is where you go for takeaway baguettes and salad. Nothing fancy, but very tasty and a household name among Walchen residents. Grab your sandwich (the tuna or garlic shrimp are my favorites) and find a spot on a bench along the boulevard.

Risotteria Castafiore (Vlissingen): Craving Italian food? Then you have to go to Castafiore in Vlissingen. I still need to go there myself, but according to my parents, they have the best risotto on the island!

Court by the Sea (Dishoek – Koudekerke): In a short time, Hof aan Zee has become perhaps the best restaurant on the island. Here, nestled beneath the dunes near Dishoek, you'll enjoy culinary dishes with a Scandinavian twist. We're huge fans of Nordic cuisine, so how special is it to have that style reflected in the finest Zeeland produce? Reservations are essential! The restaurant also serves... some guest rooms and a stay with dinner at Hof aan Zee (without the little one!) is still on the bucket list.

 

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5 X Hip(er) beach tents on Walcheren

The DAM (Women's Polder): I love the beach at Vrouwenpolder. It's expansive and yet often a bit less crowded. You can get food and drinks year-round at De DAM. The kids can have a blast at the pirate ship on the beach while you sip your beer.

The Oasis (Domburg): Unsure about the weather? Then check the webcam at the Oase in Domburg beforehand. This beach club isn't new, but it has had a really cool makeover. It has a lovely sunny terrace, and the trendy interior is also perfect for chilly days.

Brooklyn Beach (Domburg): This cool beach club with an industrial edge in Zeeland is located just outside Domburg as you head towards Westkapelle. Open year-round from breakfast to dinner. No fuss or pretentiousness here. Just delicious beachy comfort food or mussels with a sea view. Fingers crossed you're there just when they're having one of their BBQ nights!

Sea cafe (Oostkapelle): This beach club isn't large, but it's definitely one you shouldn't miss. Not a traditional beach club, but a shipping container on the beach. On warm summer evenings, the chairs, tables, and umbrellas are simply placed on the sand, and you can literally sit with your feet in the sand while enjoying a barbecue, which they sometimes light.

BomBaai Beach Bar (Westkapelle): What a great addition to Walcheren is this new beach hotspot! I've thoroughly tested it out over the past few weeks. Order a bottle of cava and some snacks to share. The razor clams and wakame bitterballen are a must-try!

trendy beach tents zeeland

Bomb Bay, Westkapelle

Most beautiful beaches and forests on Walcheren

BEACHES: Ask a Walchenaar about the most beautiful beaches on Walcheren, and they'll surely recommend the one they grew up on! We always used to go to the beach in Oostkapelle. It's still a great beach, even with small children. Other beaches I like to go to are Vrouwenpolder, Domburg, Dishoek, and Zoutelande. These are also beaches where you can swim (as long as there are no jellyfish) and are great with children. Of course, the various beaches are also great for getting a breath of fresh air in colder weather. Stroll from beach bar to beach bar, enjoy a hot chocolate or something else, and then walk back.

FORESTS: Fancy a walk? Then head to the forest near Westhove Castle and stroll through the tree-lined avenues, visit Oranje Zon and climb the lookout tower, or explore the Nollenbos forest near Vlissingen. In Walcheren, you can walk from most forests to the beach and dunes. The best of both worlds!

Walking at Westhove

10 Fun things to do in and around Walcheren

➊ Spend an afternoon in Veere, a beautiful historic town on Lake Veere. The Grote Kerk (Great Church) regularly hosts exhibitions. Stroll along the dike to the quay and through the Grote Markt (Main Market). The Oude Werf (Old Wharf) is a great place for a bite to eat and a drink, and stop by Aquamarijn for souvenir shopping. I've been coming to Veere my whole life, as my parents were born there, and my grandparents always lived on the Markt.

Walcheren isn't very big, and in bad (but also good) weather, it's fun to drive around the island. There are several places worth stopping at, such as the lighthouse at Westkapelle. You can drive along the dike all the way to the lighthouse.

Middelburg is the capital of Walcheren (and Zeeland) and a great day trip destination. In recent years, many great places have been added. Looking for tips for Middelburg? Then check out the extensive Middelburg City Guide here >>

➍ Vlissingen lies right on the Western Scheldt. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Breskens. Take a stroll along the boulevard and then have a drink at one of the beach bars. Or if the weather is bad, catch a movie just off the beach.

➎ Go village hopping for a day. Because Walcheren is so small, you can easily combine a few villages in one day. For example, visit Domburg and Zoutelande. Two seaside resorts where it truly feels like a holiday in the summer.

➏ You can rent e-bikes at various locations in Walcheren to cycle along the coast. Stop at one of the fish stalls along the way for a portion of kibbeling (fried fish)!

Do you, like me, love treasure hunting in thrift stores? Both in Middelburg and Serooskerke, you'll find two that are worth a visit. Who knows what gems you'll take home!

➑ During your holiday in Walcheren, be sure to spend a day in Zierikzee. A beautiful town on Schouwen-Duiveland with several great hotspots, such as Zeeland Heaven, Rookoo en Winebar Grissec. Also recommended on Schouwen-Duiveland: wine tasting at wine farm De Kleine Schorre! Fancy a tasty meal on the way back? Make a reservation near Kamperland at Seafarm or for Wood saw yard. No place? Then go to Taste Zeeland (the seafood snack bar plus!) where you don't need to make a reservation.

Not on Walcheren, but fun when it's "the season." Oyster fishing and then opening it with drinks. There are several places near Zierikzee and Goes where you can fish oysters at low tide. Check the rules on the website for more information. website of the Oosterschelde National Park. You can also Oestour Book a table and then you'll go oyster collecting and tasting together. Next time, you'll know what to look for and can go yourself!

Did you know you can also spot seals in Zeeland? You can do this from Zierikzee, Bruinisse, and Burghsluis, for example. Also fun: go on a fishing boat from Yerseke and learn all about mussel fishing. While you're in the area, why not try some oysters at the oyster!

Walcheren travel guide Zeeland

Veere

Accommodation // beautiful hotels and holiday homes on Walcheren

Largo Beach House Zeeland (Vlissingen): If you stay here, you'll sleep in a beach house on Nollenstrand with a sea view. Imagine how special that will be? Waking up and walking straight into the sea, or taking a stroll along the beach when no one's there yet. The houses sleep four to five people and are fully equipped, including a bathroom and kitchen.

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Largo Beach House Zeeland (Vlissingen):

© Largo Beach House Zeeland

Dune Hotel Tien Torens (Zoutelande): How cool does this "green" hotel look? I should actually say apartment-hotel, because you can also book lodges with private kitchens. There are family rooms, double rooms, and dogs are welcome upon request. The hotel is located right behind the Zoutelande dunes, just 400 meters from the beach.

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Dune Hotel Ten Towers (Zoutelande)

© Duinhotel Tien Torens

Boutique Hotel Eleanor (Middelburg): This new boutique hotel, with its cozy brasserie and cocktail bar, has just opened its doors on the historic Vlasmarkt in the heart of Middelburg. The fourteen luxury suites are all uniquely decorated with meticulous attention to detail. A family suite is also available.
Vlasmarkt 54, Middelburg, Netherlands 

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 | TIP: You can find many more great places to stay in Zeeland on Your Little Black Book! Discover them all 24 in this blog >>

boutique hotel franklin middelburg

© Boutique Hotel Eleanor

 | TIP: Are you still looking for beautiful accommodation in ZeelandI've compiled 24 tips from across the province! Discover them all here >>

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With love,

Anne

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