Discover Tholen: History, Nature and Water

Tholen can be explored on an approximately 3-kilometre city walk: the route runs along ramparts that have been transformed into green spaces, through narrow streets lined with historic façades and past monuments. Along the way, the tour explains the star-shaped defence system with ramparts, bastions and moats that replaced the medieval fortifications during the Eighty Years’ War.

Places to discover further: Scherpenisse, Stavenisse, Sint Philipsland, Tholen, Sint Maartensdijk, Sint-Annaland and Poortvliet.

Culture

The carillon in Tholen plays every quarter of an hour. It includes the oldest carillon bell in the Netherlands, dating from 1458, as well as nine bells from 1627. A total of 37 bells hang in the turret.

At the Vlasmarkt stands the preserved body of De Verwachting grain mill, built in 1848. Tholen is also home to a cruciform ecclesiastical building in the Brabant Gothic style, vaulted predominantly in stone. Its 14th-century tower was raised to 49 metres in the 15th century, while the transept and several extensions date from the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Westkerkseberg is the only surviving terp or refuge hill of the twelve hills that once stood on Tholen.

At the Streekmuseum De Meestoof in Sint-Annaland, visitors can learn about the former life and culture of Tholen and Sint-Philipsland. The collections include the madder culture, Tholen jewellery and traditional costumes; the museum also presents a changing annual exhibition on a selected theme.

The Watersnoodhuis Stavenisse is located in the former town hall and is an information centre about the 1953 storm surge disaster. During the flood on 1 February 1953, hundreds of people sought refuge there. At the port of Stavenisse stands Stavenisse Molen, a grain mill that has existed since 1801. The Het Zeemonster monument on the Provincialeweg between Sint-Maartensdijk and Stavenisse commemorates a storm surge.

Nature and Tides

The Slikken van de Heen are located near Tholen, at the Philipsdam in the Volkerak. This extensive nature reserve of creeks, marshes and woodland provides a habitat for numerous bird species, including white-tailed eagles and ospreys, as well as red deer and Konik horses.

The De Pluimpot nature reserve is a high-tide resting area and an important breeding ground for coastal birds such as oystercatchers, terns and avocets. The Pluimpot is also the last remaining part of the tidal creek that divided Tholen Island into two parts until 1556. The nature reserve is accessible via paths on the dykes, where birds can be observed all year round.

A controllable sluice structure in the Krabbenkreekdam allows salt water to flow into and out of the Rammegors twice a day. The nature reserve is characterised by grazing horses and cattle, meadow birds and, in winter, large numbers of geese. In the Rammegors, 145 hectares of mudflats and salt marshes were returned to the Oosterschelde after it was decided in 2010 to restore the tidal range.

The mudflats of the Krabbenkreek near Sint-Annaland are important feeding grounds for waders such as bar-tailed godwits, oystercatchers, turnstones and various sandpipers.

Paths and Water

The Rolbrug Tholen is located at the far end of Tholen’s harbour and allows visitors to cross as part of a harbour walk. It can be used every 15 minutes.

Tholen has nine short circular routes around the village centres. The Parel routes are short interactive trails with tasks and questions, at the end of which you receive a pearl. Different route lengths and formats make it easy to choose between short village circuits, themed trails and longer outings.

The Een moment voor Tholen cycling route is 77.4 kilometres long and passes historic farms on Tholen and Sint Philipsland. There is an information board at each farm. The route can be started at any junction and can also be ridden in two sections.

The Proef en ontdek Sint-Annaland walking route offers the opportunity to get to know the region while tasting Zeeland and Tholen regional products. Tholen is known for its early, flavourful, high-quality potatoes; other regional products include Thoolse Dikbil cattle and Oosterschelde lobster.

The harbour of the Watersportvereniging Sint-Annaland is located on the Krabbenkreek, a branch of the Oosterschelde, with clean, saline tidal water as well as mudflats and salt marshes that emerge at low tide; visiting boats are welcome. The Watersportvereniging organises sailing competitions, the 8 Hours of the Oosterschelde, an annual club tour, a culinary Steigersafari, sailing lessons and a youth sailing weekend every year.

Geographical Context

At 10.5 kilometres, the Oesterdam is the longest dam structure in the Delta Works.

For the higher-level travel overview: Zeeland.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Terneuzen.