Holiday apartment in Nieuwvliet: Coast, nature and village history

Holiday apartment in Nieuwvliet between coast and nature

Nieuwvliet combines a distinctive coastal landscape with small historical discoveries. The Verdronken Zwarte Polder nature reserve is located near Nieuwvliet at the mouth of the Westerschelde in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. It includes mudflats, salt marshes, dunes, creeks and beach, and is home to a great variety of plants and animals. In Nieuwvliet-Bad, the wide beach is popular with families; at low tide, many shallow pools form there that are suitable for small children. The different landscape elements can be experienced separately during a stay: beach and dunes characterize the open coastal section, while mudflats, salt marshes and creeks create different natural settings.

Hiking between polders, beach and dunes

The “Land and Water near Nieuwvliet” route covers 8.6 kilometers through polders, a saltwater nature reserve, beach, sea and dunes. Longer sections run over wooden boardwalks through salt marshes and mudflats. Songbirds can be heard in the shrubs along the sandy path. At 8.6 kilometers, the route can be planned as a hiking trip in its own right. The sequence of polder, saltwater nature reserve, beach, sea and dunes connects different coastal environments. Wooden boardwalks and the sandy path also give the route two clearly distinct sections.

Nature trails and fossil finds

The Verdronken Zwarte Polder also has a 2.5-kilometer hiking trail and a bridle path. The hiking trail begins at several points along the Zeedijk. The multiple access points along the Zeedijk therefore provide a specific reference point for route planning. In addition, the unpaved path through the Baanstpolder leads through newly developed nature and directly alongside a watercourse. Fossilized shark teeth are regularly found in the coastal area near Nieuwvliet. The fossilized shark teeth provide a distinct discovery aspect in the coastal area alongside the hiking trail and watercourse.

Mountain biking through the border region

The “Grensstreek” MTB route (red loop) is 35 kilometers long, runs 52 percent on unpaved paths and passes through Cadzand, Retranchement and partly through Belgium. The route starts at Boerenhoeve Nieuwvliet. There, Boerenhoeve offers mountain bikers parking, a workshop, a bicycle washing facility and showers. For planning the day, both the 35 kilometers and the 52 percent share of unpaved paths can be taken into account for this route. The route connects Cadzand and Retranchement with a section in Belgium.

Church, windmill and the history of Nieuwvliet

The Nederlands Hervormde Kerk in Nieuwvliet is the oldest building in the village and a Rijksmonument. Its small hall church dates from 1658. Nieuwvliet’s unnamed grain mill is a round stone Dutch earth mill dating from 1850. Today, volunteer millers operate it; fresh organic whole-wheat flour and spelt are also sold there. Nieuwvliet emerged from the three historic lordships of Nieuwvliet, Mettenije and Sint-Pieter. The church and mill represent two different points in time: 1658 for the small hall church and 1850 for the mill.

Discover more places

For further orientation, you can also explore Cadzand, Sint Kruis, Breskens, Eede, Hoofdplaat, Waterlandkerkje, Zuidzande and Groede.

For the overarching travel overview: Sluis.