Discover Eede: holiday apartment, history and cross-border hiking

Eede showcases its history through notable buildings, memorials and a cross-border hiking trail. At the centre is the national monument “De Nederlandse Maagd”: it commemorates the return of Queen Wilhelmina to the Netherlands after an absence of almost five years. The 4.8-metre-high tuff column bears a female figure holding the Dutch national coat of arms in her hands. A commemorative plaque also names the Canadian regiments that fought there and suffered losses. This gives the history a vivid, tangible form.

Historical traces in Eede

The name Eede also points to an older landscape history. It derives from the river Ee, which flowed past Aardenburg and emptied into the Zwin. After the Peace of Münster in 1648, a church was built in Eede in 1649–1650; at that time, 40 Reformed households lived there. If you enjoy discovering local history through names, dates and historical connections, you will find several different points of reference here.

The village is also home to an air observation tower built in 1953. It is one of three surviving air observation towers in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. In this way, a structure from more recent history complements the memories of Queen Wilhelmina, the history of war and the border, and Eede’s ecclesiastical historical traces.

Two further buildings are designated as municipal monuments: the former flax-drying facility is located on Brieversweg at number 9. The former tram station and customs office building is on Nieuwe Weg at number 5. Both buildings represent former functions of the village and broaden the historical spectrum to include flax processing, transport and customs.

The Smokkelpad across the border

For active days, the Smokkelpad offers a clear focus. The cross-border hiking trail is approximately 25 kilometres long and starts at the national monument “De Nederlandse Maagd” on Koningin Wilhelminaplein. It runs through the municipalities of Sluis, Maldegem and Sint-Laureins. The route thus connects Eede with a hiking trail whose course includes several municipalities and the border region.

Choose a holiday apartment in Eede based on your travel type

When choosing a holiday apartment in Eede, you can use your preferred daily rhythm as a guide: would you like to make the Smokkelpad the focus of your hiking activities, or give prominence to historic buildings, ecclesiastical history and the memories at the national monument? This allows your accommodation choice to reflect your personal travel profile without setting the different sides of the village against one another. Travelling by road also provides clear guidance: from Zelzate, the route leads via the N49, and from Aalter via the N44, in each case through Maldegem towards Eede on the N410.

More places for planning your trip

More places for your own orientation: Groede, Retranchement, Cadzand-Bad, Hoofdplaat, Oostburg, Waterlandkerkje, Breskens and Zuidzande.

To the main travel overview: Sluis.