Vlissingen boomerang Borssele, Ritthem and Niedorp

Departure towards the St. Nickolas chapel, this intimate church was founded by The Mission to Seamen, which was affiliated with the Anglican church. The current organization, Mission to Seafarers, focuses on sheltering sailors. It will therefore come as no surprise that the chapel is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of seafarers. A kilometer further, at the mouth of the former Welzinge canal that gave access to the port of Middelburg, is Fort Rammekens. The fort used to be called Zeeburg and in 1496 it was not yet a fort, but a bay where ships moored. It is the oldest surviving sea fortress in Western Europe. Fort Rammekens was built in 1547 to protect and control the busy shipping routes to Antwerp and Middelburg. The fortress was built over the former sea dike in the shape of a diamond. A bastion, with thick walls in which cannons could be placed, was erected, aimed at the Western Scheldt. Half-bastions with cannons were built at the ends of the walls, which were covered with earth in the post-Napoleonic era. A lot of natural stone was used in the construction of the fort, because it was more resistant to the salt water, and for defense the fort was given a moat on the inland side. After 1560 Fort Rammekens was in the hands of the Spaniards, the French and the English, but in 1814 it became Dutch property again. The defensive function was abolished in 1869, but continued to be used as a powder magazine. When you have almost completed the boomerang, you will see the Hope and Expectation windmill in Borssele. This octagonal ground sailer was built in 1714 to replace a fallen post mill. Although the mill was commissioned by the municipality of Goes, the mill became privately owned and remained so until 1976. The miller at the time died in an accident on the mill yard in that year and the mill was bought by the municipality in 1980. The corn mill is still able to grind.