Yerseke, Waarde and Kruiningen

This relatively short cycle route in Zuid-Beveland (Zeeland) leads through a lovely, atmospheric landscape full of winding creeks with sloping banks and beautiful reed collars. The periods of struggle against the water - winning land versus flooding, resulted in the construction of many dikes around the polders. The area has never been densely populated, which means that Zuid Beveland offers unprecedented tranquility. In the swampy, rural area you cycle past characteristic farms and through fields and orchards. Two beautiful windmills deserve special attention on this beautiful route: De Hoed in Waarde and the Oude Molen in Kruiningen. De Hoed is a beautiful post mill that originally stood in Ghent around 1550. In 1858 the building was moved to Kruiningen, but in 1991 the mill was moved again to its current location. The open post mill was used as a flour mill and is equipped with two pairs of millstones. Since the last time the mill was rebuilt, it has been used on a voluntary basis to grind grain. The Old Mill is a flour mill built in 1801 that operated on wind power until 1953. In the second half of the twentieth century, the mill was extensively restored twice, after the municipality bought the ground sailor in 1959. In 2001, the entire mill was moved a bit, so that it could catch the wind better. This mill is also equipped with two pairs of grinding stones and is regularly put into operation by a volunteer miller.