Tour of Vlissingen

This route may be too long with small children, but with older children it is definitely recommended! The route takes you around Vlissingen for no less than 7 kilometers along the beautiful coastline of this Zeeland town. Vlissingen is one of seventeen protected city and village views in Zeeland. In the summer months, the Boulevards, Nollestrand and Badstrand attract many tourists and Vlissingen residents. On the southern pier there is a wind organ, which consists of bamboo pipes (with various holes). In strong winds this sounds almost like a choir. You will also find the statue of Michiel de Ruyter here. Michiel de Ruyter is one of the most famous naval heroes in Dutch history. He played an important role in the first three Anglo-Dutch Wars. He also took part in several wars in the Baltic Sea and against piracy in the Mediterranean. De Ruyter was alternately employed by the state and by shipowners, and was even active in the whaling industry as an independent entrepreneur for a while. The old center has about 300 monuments, making the city the 30th monument city in the Netherlands. For example, we find the Oranjemolen in the city. The mill is ready for grinding and is still used to grind grain on a voluntary basis. Of the 23 city mills in Vlissingen, the Oranjemolen is the only one left. It is the closest windmill in the Netherlands to the sea. The mill has suffered war violence several times. A bullet from the English fleet in 1809 is said to still be in the south-west side of the mill wall. Traces of the Second World War can also be found - the Allies landed near the mill in 1944. The city has a maritime character partly due to these monuments, but also due to its location on the Western Scheldt, the robust and unpolished buildings in the Scheldt Quarter and the busy shipping traffic on the roads. The play of water and wind creates a different atmosphere in the city every day. The Western Scheldt has many shallow spots, which means that most ships have a pilot on board. The piloting of the ships is easy to follow from the boulevards.