Zierikzee - is listed amongst the top ten monumental towns of the Netherlands, with more than 500 national monuments. Some examples are: St.Lievens Monstertoren, het Gravensteen, het Burgerweeshuis, de Gasthuiskerk, het voormalige stadhuis, de Nieuwe Kerk en het Poortencomplex aan de Oude Haven.

Zierikzee is the main town on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland and in the past was a prosperous port on the Gouwe, a straight which separated Schouwen from Duiveland. The town maintained good relations with the Hanseatic League and later it became the residence of the Counts of Holland and Zeeland.

Decline set in from the 16^th century but has retained its heritage, the rows of stately merchants houses and snug sailors cottages dating from the 16^th to 18^th centuries, and a medieval harbour, fronted by two towers. Schouwen-Duiveland is linked to Goree Overflakkee in the north by the Brouwersdam and the Grevelingendam and the Noord-Beveland in the south by the Oosterschelde storm surge barrier and the Zeelandbrug.

Zierikzee looks like an open-air museum but is a living town, with gezellig (cosy/friendly) bars and fine restaurants. A long inlet, lined by yachts in summer, leads to the Oosterschelde, boat trips (tel: 0111-414995) leaves from here to tour the Storm Surge Barrier. The short trip on the Oosterschelde takes you under the Zeelandbrug toward Colijnplaat. Boat trips – operate July and August – Mon-Thurs. Information Rederij Gebhard, 010-265 02 96.

Special folkloric events include the traditional sailing race on the Oosterschelde and Expo Zierikzee in May. Yearly market, beinning of June; Deltaweek in early July Tourist days, most Tuesdays from mid-July to mid August and the funfair in September.

The Maritime Museum is housed in the ‘s-Gravensteen and dates from the 13^th century and was the town jail. It has a 1524 crow-stepped gable with ornamental wrought iron grilles on the first floor windows. Open Apr-Oct and during school holidays. Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm. Sun and public holidays, noon-5pm. Closed 1 january and 25 December. Price €2 (children €1).

Noordhavenpoort – This double gateway presents two 16^th century Renaissance gables on the town side and an older crow-stepped gable on the outside. The Zuidhavenpoort takes the form of a square tower with four 14^th century corner turrets and is linked to the previous gateway by a lever bridge.

Oude Haven – Rows of elegant 17^th and 18^th century houses line the quaysides of the old harbour. There are still some old ships to be seen.

Havenpark – On the north side of this square the house called De Witte Swaen datin from 1658 has a lovely Baroque gable. The house itself was rebuilt after the 1953 floods. Adjoining the Gasthuiskerk is a former market, the Beurs, consisting of a Renaissance style arcaded gallery with Tuscan columns.

Stadhuis – The town hall was formerly the meat market. The oustanding feature of the building, which has altered several times, is the unusual wooden tower topped with an ornamental onion-shaped dome (1550) suremounted by a stature of Neptune. The tower has a Carillon. Two decorative pieces of wroght iron were for holding lighted torches.

The Stadhuismuseum inside is a local history museum. Most of the exhibits are displayed in the Harquebusiers’ Hall with its fine timber ceiling. Across from the Stadhuis the 14^th century Huis De Haene, often called the Telpellershuis is the oldest building in town. The influence of Bruges (Belgium) architecture cna be seen in the ogee-shaped mouldings of the windows. Open May – Oct, Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm, Sun, noon-5pm. Closed November to April and public holidays. Tel: 0111- 45 44 64. Price €2 (children €1).

St-Lievensmontertoren – This is the clock tower of the old Gothic cathedral which was destroyed by fire in 1832. Building work on the tower srted in 1454 and was supervised by a member os the Keldermand family, who were also responsible for Middelburg town hall. The tower rises to a height 184ft, but it remains unfinished. Next door is a large neo-Classical church (1848) with a portico. Information from VVV tel: 0111-41 24 50.

Nobelpoort – The outside of this 14^th century square town gate is flanked by two towers, both later additions, topped by tall tapering pepperpot roofs. Further on is a tall 19^th century tower mill called De Hoop.

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