Enjoy in and around Zuidzande

A day in Zeeland Flanders is almost like a day in another country. And that is not surprising: the area has been strongly influenced culturally by our southern neighbors. You can also hear it in the Flemish accent of the residents. That immediately makes your cycling tour special, because in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen you experience the best of two cultures. The route takes you through the western part of this quirky and pleasant region. You cycle over endless country roads and winding dikes. All around you are wet grasslands, barely visible creeks and meandering streams. The trees are always slightly out of alignment, buffeted by the wind from an early age. The route takes you through medieval Sluis. Feel free to take a detour to view the center of this beautiful fortified town. The biggest eye-catcher is the fourteenth-century town hall, the only belfry in the Netherlands. From the top of the tower you have an unprecedented view of the surroundings. You will also visit Cadzand-Dorp, a medieval ring village with the Gothic Maria Church from the early fourteenth century in the middle. The church and the picturesque old houses are reminiscent of times gone by. In the former legionary town of Retranchement (French for a fortification in the form of an earthen wall) you will of course encounter military history. The fortified village is a remnant of a fortification built by Prince Maurits in 1604. Initially, only a few soldiers and their families lived there, later two forts were built nearby. Retranchement itself was given a wall with three bastions that still surround the village. In the village you will pass the Retranchementse Mill. This flour mill dates from 1818 and replaced its predecessor from 1643, which had fallen over.