Holiday Apartment in Noordwelle: Circular Village, Culture and Cycling Experiences

Noordwelle is a circular village: its houses are arranged in a circle around the Cornelius Church. The village centre originated in the 12th or 13th century on a creek ridge, a former embankment; the old centre is still higher than the surrounding land today. The tower of the Cornelius Church, built around 1450, is another defining feature. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Noordwelle will find a place whose character is directly shaped by its village structure and history.

Historic Houses on the Dorpsring

At Dorpsring 4 stands the deep house De Zeven Harten, with a heavily restored stepped gable and the date 1631. De Helle is a detached building of the rural-house type dating from the 17th century. Zeelandia is a manor house or farm; its residential building dates from the 19th century and has a rendered façade. These buildings give the local history a tangible form and make the circular village interesting for visitors who value historic details during their stay.

Cornelius Church, Garden and Contemporary Art

Today, the Cornelius Church serves as a church as well as an exhibition and concert venue. Kloosterwelle holds a weekly vespers service there, featuring singing, a moment of silence, prayers and the opportunity to light a candle. Kloostertuin De Wellehof is located in the immediate vicinity of the Cornelius Church in Noordwelle and is a permanent venue for Kloosterwelle. Noordwelle is also one of the participating villages and provides space for contemporary art, exhibitions and surprising installations in special locations such as barns, gardens or residents’ studios.

Tradition with Horses and Seawater

A special tradition is Straô Rieën, which has been practised since 1643. At the end of winter, the horses are ridden to the beach, where their legs are washed with seawater. During the procession, decorated horses travel from the villages to the beach. Straô Rieën takes place annually in six villages on Schouwen: Renesse, Noordwelle, Burgh-Haamstede, Ellemeet, Scharendijke and Serooskerke. For families and other travellers who prefer to experience regional customs firsthand rather than abstractly, this event is one of the prominent cultural highlights around Noordwelle.

Island, Beach, Castles and Park

Slot Moermond, a castle, is located near Noordwelle. Ter Hooge, also a castle, lies in the wider regional area. The surrounding area also includes Schouwen-Duiveland, an island; Ouddorp Beach, a beach; Schans (Zeeland), a fortress; Dwars in den Weg, an island; Neeltje Jans, an island; and Boswachterij Westerschouwen, a park. This range of options helps you choose accommodation according to your preferred focus: village history, island landscapes, beach, fortress or park.

Discover Noordwelle by Bicycle

There are also specific points of interest for days spent on two wheels. The manually operated cable ferry in Noordwelle allows cyclists to pull themselves and their bicycles to the other side. The 53-kilometre “Toen en Nu” cycling route includes a section through Noordwelle. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can therefore focus on the historic village centre, cultural events or a section of this longer cycling tour.

Other places to include in your travel plans are Nieuwerkerk, Noordgouwe, Zierikzee, Zonnemaire, Renesse, Ouwerkerk, Dreischor and Oosterland.

For the overarching travel overview: Schouwen-Duiveland.