Holiday apartment in Burgh-Haamstede – Dunes, Trails and History

The Zeepeduinen are a varied dune area with open sand, dune valleys, dune lakes, woodland and shrubs. Open and vegetated landscape elements lie side by side here. Burgh-Haamstede combines this landscape with places where military history, medieval traces, regional history and contemporary art come together.

Trails through dunes and watery landscapes

The red hiking route Zeepeduinen and Slot Haamstede is 5.5 kilometres long. It passes Slot Haamstede and leads through ’t Zeepe with its freshwater lakes. Dunes, valleys and bodies of water alternate along this route. Its fixed length makes it possible to plan it as a clearly defined hiking stage for a day of walking. The trail connects the dune landscape with Slot Haamstede and ’t Zeepe, whose freshwater lakes form another specific landscape feature along the route.

Another perspective on the landscape is offered by the hiking route around the Plompe Toren near Burgh-Haamstede. It runs between the Oosterschelde to the south and the centuries-old inlagen and karrevelden to the north. Along this route, the Oosterschelde, the inlagen and the karrevelden are specific landscape elements within the same itinerary.

Bunkers, Tower and Castle

The Vleugelbunker is a Type 117a command bunker from which the German troops commanded all defensive installations on Schouwen. The Vleugelbunker is also known as the Walvisbunker. There is a viewing point at the Vleugelbunker; a staircase leads to a plateau with expansive views over the surrounding Zeepeduinen.

From Saturday, 28 June, to Saturday, 12 September, it was open to the public on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; guided tours were offered during this period. The oldest part of today’s Slot Haamstede dates from the 13th century. The Plompe Toren offers another historical point of access: it is the only surviving relic of Koudekerke, a village that disappeared beneath the water.

The Plompe Toren houses a small information centre run by Natuurmonumenten. Climbing the Plompe Toren is free of charge.

Museums and Special Cultural Venues

The Museum de Burghse Schoole has three exhibition rooms. These include a classroom from 1920 and a room dedicated to the Carolingian ring fortress. The museum also tells the story of the Kop van Schouwen, its people and its nature.

The Bewaerschole is an exhibition space for experimental and contemporary art in a distinctive historic building in Burgh-Haamstede. The building on Weststraat was constructed in 1873/1874 as a Bewahrschule, or former preschool.

Climbing Elements at Klimbos

At Klimbos Zeeuwse Helden, there are six climbing courses with ziplines, rope ladders, wobbly bridges and other climbing elements. The various courses thus bring several specific forms of climbing together in a separate activity alongside the hiking trails and historic cultural venues.

Other destinations include Ellemeet, Scharendijke, Noordwelle, Zierikzee, Serooskerke Schouwen, Oosterland, Kerkwerve and Zonnemaire.

Other destination: Schouwen-Duiveland.