Through and around the beautiful Schoondijke

Schoondijke is a nice central base for a bike ride through Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. This rural village is located at a crossroads, from here you can quickly reach Oostburg, Breskens and IJzendijke. Take a look at the statue of the Zeeland draft horse, which is a symbol of agriculture.

Another point of interest here is the Stenen Beltmolen, which survived the Second World War - only its typical Flemish mansard roof was lost. You will immediately find the mill on your route if you have only just stepped on it. Fun fact: it was agreed with the Canadians that when the blades were in the plus position, it meant that the resistance found shelter there. The miller still grinds flour to order today. You can take a look inside on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Then you cycle through a beautiful nature reserve, the Nieuwerkerkse Kreek (or Nieuwkerkse Kreek), just below the village of Groede. You will also come back here on the way back, then you will see it from a different angle. The creek was a side arm of the Nieuwerhavense Gat, which arose at the time of the inundations of 1583. In 1613, the estuary was dammed by the Krabbedijk. To the west, the water splits erratically in two. The southern branch continues into the nature reserves De Blikken and De Reep. The northern branch ends in the Zwartegatse Kreek and the Wielingen.

The creek was named after the former village of Nieuwerkerke, which disappeared into the waves in 1585. The Torenweg and the Torenhoeve north of the creek are also reminders of this village that has been lost.

A little further on you cycle into Nieuwvliet (popularly called Sinte Pier). This small village actually consists of two parts: Nieuwvliet-Dorp and Nieuwvliet-Bad. Today we cycle through Nieuwvliet-Dorp, two kilometers from the coast. The first buildings arose here around 1600, but there is not much left of them outside the church. You will find a few shops there.

You will find even more shops in Oostburg, you really have to get off here. It is the center of West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, where you can enjoy shopping and a bite to eat. There is also much to see, such as the Switchback War Museum and the Oostburg water tower, at 55 meters the highest point in West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.

From Oostburg you make a loop to the nice village of Waterlandkerkje. This polder village is named after the church around which the hamlet originated in the 17th century, in a region that was called Waterland in the Middle Ages. The hamlet was called't Kerkje, as the villagers still do.

Towards the end of the route you will come across another beautiful windmill: the windmill of Zuidzande. This round belt mill, without scaffolding, was built in 1874 and last restored in 1981. Note the elegant white wind vane in the shape of a rooster.