Holiday home Schouwse Duin 27 Burgh-Haamstede || Zeeland

Did you know that Burgh and Haamstede are in fact two separate villages? Although the villages are now practically joined at the hip, the two original village centres are still clearly recognisable.

Burgh-Haamstede in the province of Zeeland, is part of the municipality Schouwen-Duiveland and located on the west side of the island. The area is also known as “de Kop van Schouwen” (the head of Schouwen), of which Burgh-Haamstede is the centrally located heart.

The surrounding North Sea coast is characterised by vast and broad sandy beaches, one of the biggest attractions for the many tourists that visit the island every year. The beaches are surrounded by a very diverse dune landscape with barren valleys, sand drifts and dune meadows with many types of colourful and fragrant plants. Several walking trails in, for example, “the Zeepeduinen”, lead you through this magnificent landscape, via herds of wild Shetland ponies and Scottish Highland cattle. In Westerschouwen this area smoothly flows into the biggest forest Zeeland has: “the Domeinen”. Along the same coastal route, you will also find one of the most beautiful mountain bike tours of our country.

The area around Burgh-Haamstede is perfect for long cycling trips through a landscape that you don’t see often anymore in the Netherlands. The many quiet country roads take you along characteristic villages and provide various safe cycling paths.

Burgh-Haamstede has several well-known sites, including thirteenth century “Slot Haamstede” (Castle Haamstede). The castle is now owned by ‘Natuurmonumenten’ (Nature Monuments) and can only be visited under supervision. Next to the castle is one of the highest lighthouses of the Netherlands. The “Westerlichttoren” with its red and white stripes, has a height of no less than 58 metres above sea level. Did you know that it was this tower that was depicted on the 250 guilders bank note until 2001?

Besides this tower, there is another notable tower just outside the village, the so-called “Plompe Toren”. This tower is the sole surviving remnant of the village Koudekerke which could one be found on Schouwen-Duiveland. Because of the many floods that afflicted our country between the 15th and 17th century, is villages disappeared into the sea.

Burgh-Haamstede is only about 5 kilometres from the world-famous Delta Works with the impressive Oosterscheldekering. This storm surge barrier connects the island Schouwen-Duiveland with, for example, the island Neeltje Jans, where you can visit the family water park of the same name. For energetic people, there is Lake Grevelingen with the Brouwersdam just north of the island. Here you can enjoy all sorts of water-based activities.

In Burgh-Haamstede is a large supermarket, a pharmacy, a bakery, a shop where you can hire bikes, and various restaurants. In neighbouring Nieuw-Haamstede you will find a glider airfield where you can book an introduction flight for only a small fee.

Also worth a visit are the old Dutch towns Zierikzee, Veere and Middelburg or the seaside towns Renesse and Domburg.

For more information about Burgh-Haamstede and its surrounding area, we would like to refer you to the local tourist office.