秘密のオランダ – ゼーラント（風光明媚なオランダ沿岸州の文化旅行ガイド）

秘密のオランダ – ゼーラント（風光明媚なオランダ沿岸州の文化旅行ガイド）

The southernmost province of the Netherlands 
is a collection of islands and a slice of the mainland that have been doing battle with 
the sea for centuries. In this short film, I’ll be exploring some of the historic towns 
of this friendly province and discovering why the landscape changed so dramatically 
in the second half of the 20th century. It’s fitting that the slogan of this province is 
I struggle and I emerge because this is sea land Zeeland or more accurately as they say here 
“Zeeland”. If you’re wondering whether New Zealand was named after Zeeland, then I can tell 
you it was. The first European to land there was the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. And the official 
Dutch cartographer to the Dutch East India Company named the new land after Zeeland not consulting 
the indigenous Maoris of course and regardless of the fact that the landscape was completely 
different. I begin my trip to old Zealand in the town of Veere. The historic port of Veere 
has a strong connection with Scotland. From the mid-16th century onwards, it had a monopoly 
on Scottish wool and that made this little port very rich indeed. And along with wool came people. 
A large Scottish community made their home here in what was then the United Provinces. Veere”s first 
link with Scotland was formed when the abbot of Melrose received the right to export Scottish wool 
into Flanders from the count of Flanders. In 1612, an agreement between King James 6th and the Duke 
of Burgundy gave the Scots community their own church, Manse, courthouse, locker, and wash 
house. Scottish wool was imported to Flanders, Holland, and Brabant with shiploads of 
arms and ammunition for the Scottish and English armies exported the other way. 
However, all good things come to an end, and the invasion of the Netherlands by the French 
Republican army at the end of the 18th century saw the Scottish community dwindle to just 15. In the 
20th century, the final straw for the port as a whole was finding itself on an inland lake rather 
than the open sea. So, how did that happen? Well, much of Zeeland lies below sea level on land 
reclaimed from the river estuaries by the local inhabitants over centuries and protected by a 
complicated system of dykes. Between the 31st of January and the 1st of February in 1953, 
a violent storm out in the North Sea combined with an extraordinarily high tide. And finally, 
the battle with the sea was lost in catastrophic fashion. Here in Zeeland, 1,800 people lost 
their lives along with thousands of animals. The government of the Netherlands immediately 
adopted a plan to prevent further catastrophe. The Delta Works is a series of construction projects 
constructed between 1954 and 1997 consisting of dams, locks, dykes, levees, sluices and vast 
storm surge barriers. The Dutch coastline has been massively reduced and at the same time the 
land given far better protection. The benefits of the dams include better connectivity between the 
islands and the creation of large recreational lakes and also brand new North Sea beaches. Not 
surprisingly, the mammoth Delta works have been declared one of the seven wonders of the modern 
world by the American Society of Civil Engineers. This is Domberg, a favourite haunt of artists 
in bygone days and extremely popular during the summer months. In October, it’s 
sleepy and I like it that way. To commemorate Mondrian’s visits to Domberg, this 
is well unmistakably Mondrian’s bench. In 2013, Domberg was given the official status of a 
health resort by the German Spa Association. The seawater, the climate, and the natural 
resources of the soils here have healthgiving properties. The cafes have health-giving 
properties, too, but that’s just my personal opinion. Close to Domberg is the lovely 
village of Oostkapelle. Now, if you’re here, make sure to pop into the Bakkerij d’Arke where 
Arya will sell you delicious bread and other local products from a heritage 1853 windmill, which 
has to be one of the prettiest mills in Zeeland. As you travel further along the coast, the huge 
sea dyke becomes even more evident at Westkapelle. The vill’ages first sea defences were constructed 
in the 15th century with more reinforcement over the years until they were bombed by British planes 
in the Second World War in an attack against the German occupying forces. Here at Westkapelle, 
there are sombre reminders of the battles that took place here as the allies attempted to stop 
the advance of Nazi Germany. Whilst the battles in 1940 were lost, four years later, the Allies 
would return to these shores and be victorious. The capital of the province is 
Middelburg. Middelburg has seen highs and lows. From the 90 m 
high tower of its 900year-old abbey to the destruction of both 
bombing and flooding in the 1940s. Centuries of trading from the old merchant 
houses has now given way to independent shopping and eating venues. It’s one of 
my favorite towns in the whole country. Even on a grey day in October, it won’t be 
long before you’re thinking like me, “God, I wish I lived in Middelburg.” This place has such 
a great vibe. It’s stacked with places to eat, loads of independent shopping, including 
a great record shop. And of course, there are the historic buildings. Oh, 
that one behind me. Oh, it’s only a 15th century town hall. One of the greatest 
pieces of architecture in Northern Europe. The magnificent town hall now houses the 
University College Roosevelt and also revolving art exhibitions. Only a few kilometers 
away is the very different town of Vlissingen. The port of Vlissingen was heavily bombed 
during the Second World War, which is why its architecture is entirely different to that 
of Middelburg, which is just a few kilometers away. Vlissingen is the hub of the economy 
in Zeeland from pilots marshalling container ships through to Antwerp to being Western 
Europe’s largest exporter of onions. In fact, although it’s tucked away in Zeeland, the 
port is the country’s third largest after Rotterdam and Amsterdam. From the contemporary 
and late 20th century buildings of Vlissingen, I travel north to a different island and 
to an entirely different time. Zierikzee really is a museum town. It has over 500 
listed buildings and monuments, but it is a living museum town. Let me tell you more over 
a drink. Zierikzee is truly a medieval gem. It received city rights in the mid13th century and 
in 1304 it was the scene of a famous conflict with French and Dutch fleets defeating a Flemish fleet 
in the naval battle of Zierikzee. In the following years it grew rich on trade between the low 
countries and Great Britain. If you ever wondered what it would be like to walk around an old Dutch 
master’s painting then come here and have a stroll around the streets of Zierikzee. Take away 
the cars and some of the shops and it is like stepping back in time to the Middle Ages. These 
medieval city gates have witnessed the ebb and flow of both trade and water from turbulent times 
through to the relative calm of the present day. The combination of historic towns, big skies, and water makes Zeeland quite unique. 
And it really is a secret apart from the Germans. German tourists have found Zeeland. 
Nobody else has. And of course, the Dutch, well, they’re not going to tell you. This place 
deserves exploration. I’m definitely coming back!

Towns visited: Middelburg, Veere, Vlissingen, Domburg, Oostkapelle, Westkapelle, Zierikzee

The southernmost province of the Netherlands is a collection of islands and a slice of the mainland that have done battle with the sea for centuries. This is Zeeland!

Filmed by Jonathan Wheeler – October 2025
@TravelObscurer
Additional drone footage licensed through Envato
Additional music licensed through Artlist.
#zeeland #middelburg #zierikzee #veere #netherlandstravel

In this short film I’ll be exploring some of the historic towns of this friendly province and discovering why the landscape changed so dramatically in the second half of the 20th century.
If you’re wondering whether New Zealand was named after Zealand then I can tell you – it was. The first European to land there was the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman and the official Dutch cartographer to the Dutch East India Company named the new land after Zeeland. He didn’t consult the indigenous Maoris of course.

I begin my trip to Old Zeeland in the town of Veere, the staple port for Scotland.
Veere’s first link with Scotland was formed when the Cistercian Abbot of Melrose received the right to export Scottish wool into Flanders duty from the Count of Flanders In 1612. an agreement between King James VI and the Duke of Burgundy gave the Scots community their own church, manse, courthouse, lock-up, and washhouse.Scottish wool was imported to Flanders, Holland and Brabant with shiploads of arms and ammunition for the Scottish and English armies exported the other way. The tiles used for ballast in the ships can be seen in Culross and other east coast towns. All good things come to an end and the invasion of the Netherlands by the French Republican army at the end of the 18th century saw the Scottish community dwindle to just fifteen. In the 20th century the final straw for the port was finding itself on an inland lake rather than the open sea, so how did that happen?

Much of Zeeland lies below sea level, on land reclaimed from the river estuaries. by the local inhabitants over centuries and protected by dykes.Then came the great flood of 1953!
The government of the Netherlands immediately adopted a plan to prevent further catastrophe.
The Delta Works is a series of construction projects constructed between 1954 and 1997, consisting of dams, locks, dykes, levees, sluices and vast storm surge barriers. The Dutch coastline, has been massively reduced, and at the same time, given far better protection.
The benefits of the dams included better connectivity between the islands, and the creation of large recreational lakes and also brand new north sea beaches. Not surprisingly the mammoth Delta Works have been declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

With its wide sandy beach Domburg is a busy resort in the summer and was once a popular retreat for artists. In 2013 Domburg was given the official status of ‘health resort’by the German Spa Association. The sea water, the climate and the natural resources of the soils here have health-giving properties. The cafes have health giving properties too, but that’s just my opinion.

Close to Domburg is the lovely village of Oostkapelle. If you’re here make sure to pop into the Bakerij D’ark where Arja will sell you delicious bread and other local products from a heritage 1853 windmill, one of the prettiest mills in Zealand.
As you travel along the coast the huge sea dyke becomes even more evident at Westkapelle.
The village’s first sea defences were constructed in the 15th century, with more reinforcement over the years, until they were bombed by the British planes in the Second World War in an attack against the German occupying forces.

The capital of the province is Middelburg.
Middleburg has seen highs and lows, from the 90 meter high tower of its 900 year old abbey to the destruction of both bombing and flooding in the 1940s. Centuries of trading from the old merchant houses has now given way to independent shopping and eating venues.The magnificent town hall houses the University College Roosevelt and also art exhibitions.

Only a few kilometres away is the very different town of Vlissingen.
Vlissingen is the hub of the economy in Zealand, from pilots marshalliing containers ships to Antwerp, to being Western Europe’s largest exporter of onions. In fact, although tucked away in Zeeland, the port is the country’s third largest after Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

From the contemporary and late 20th century buildings of Vlissingen I travel north to a different island and to an entirely different time. Zierikzee.
Zierikzee is a medieval gem. It received city rights in the mid 13th century and in 1304 it was the scene of a famous conflict, with French and Dutch fleets defeating a Flemish fleet in the naval Battle of Zierikzee. In the following years it grew rich on trade between the low countries and Great Britain.