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Zeeland |
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Zeeland is the most authentic coastal province of the Netherlands. No villages
are further than 17 km from the sea or a former sea arm. The deltas of the Rhine,
Meuse and Scheldt offer a great diversity of ecosystems: river arms and estuaries,
mudflats and saltings, beaches and dunes, dikes and refuge mounds. With its
wealth of birds and seals, the shallow sea area of the Voordelta belongs to
the most important nature areas in the Netherlands. Agriculture dominates the
view of the flat land and its clay soil. The vast openness is accented by windbreak
of trees, characteristic villages and stylish cities. Behind the protection
of dunes and dikes are harbours and seaside resorts. Zeeland has had to deal
with many storm surges for thousands of years. After the flood disaster in 1953,
the Delta Plan dams were built, which united the islands of Zeeland. This was
the finishing touch of the fight against the sea, which has not been more intense
anywhere on earth. This fact can be found in the coat of arms of Zeeland: Luctor
et emergo – I struggle and emerge.
Nature & Landscape
Sea
The sea is the largest natural area of the Netherlands, with many kinds of fish,
shellfish, crabs, shrimp, worms, etc. The coastal seas are important nurseries
for the whole North Sea and have the most abundant animal life. The sea ecosystem
has a lot of pressure from fisheries; the sea floor is being stirred up a lot
and various fish species are being threatened with extinction.
North Sea:
natural habitat for ca. 200 fish species including sand eel, haddock, plaice,
sole, sprat, saith, herring, mackerel, cod and whiting; in the open sea porpoises
can be found.
Voordelta:
shallow part of the North Sea, tidal area with sand banks and channels; important
as a marine nursery for the Common Seal and for many coastal and marine bird
species.
Estuaries, salt marshes and mudflats
Between the islands there have always been sea arms through which the rivers
could flow into the sea, but where the tides and salt water could reach far
inland during storms: the estuaries. Along the edges of the estuaries there
are mudflats, of which the higher parts only get covered by water at very high
tides and have some vegetation: the so-called salt marshes. High tides however
do reach through the channels, which continue to move.
The Western Scheldt is the last open estuary which has not been blocked from
the sea; the funnel-shaped sea arm becomes the river mouth of the Scheldt past
the Belgian border. Three higher parts of the Western Scheldt are important
nature areas:
Hooge Platen (860 ha): sand flats, mudflats and saltings
which largely get submerged during high tide. On a higher sand flat in the west,
Bol, large colonies of birds breed: Sandwich Tern, Little Tern and Common Tern.
During migration, many thousands of stilt-birds (e.g. Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot,
Oystercatcher). Easily accessible (by boat) but closed in spring and summer.
Verdronken Land van Saeftinge (2580 ha): largest saltings
area of Europe, partially consisting of mudflats without vegetation. Until the
flood on All Saints Day in 1570, this was a prosperous polder, the Domain of
Saeftinghe, which consisted of several villages. During the Eighty Years war,
the area was deliberately kept under water and has since never been made into
a polder again. The area, which is grazed by sheep and cattle, has a wealth
of unusual summer birds (e.g. Bluethroat, Water Rail) and in autumn and winter
there are great numbers of ducks and geese. Only the south-western part is freely
accessible.
‘t Zwin: a saltings area surrounded by dunes,
which has an open connection with the sea; therefore it resembles the Slufter
of Texel, but it is the remnant of the river that once connected the cities
of Bruges and Damme with the sea. Located in Belgium for a major part. The saltings
are not accessible. The other estuaries have completely or partially lost their
character as a sea arm due to the construction of the Delta dams:
Grevelingen (14,000 ha): former estuary, now the largest
salt water lake of north-western Europe; due to the loss of tides, the larger
sandflats now have vegetation, e.g. Veermansplaat and Hompelvoet; on the latter
Sandwich Terns breed. The water is freely accessible; the shore lines are best
accessible along the Grevelingendam and the Brouwersdam.
Eastern Scheldt
(35,000 ha): this estuary has partially kept its tidal character
after the construction of the flood barrier, but natural values have decreased
considerably. The saltings area of Verdronken Land van Zuid-Beveland can be
found in the most south-western part. Freely accessible. National Park www.npoosterschelde.nl
Sint Philipsland
Buitendijks (1840 ha, including bordering flats and saltings):
mudflats and salt marsh, extremely important due to the wealth of breeding and
migratory birds (ducks, geese, stilt-birds) and the presence of sea grass; part
of the Eastern Scheldt basin. Not accessible.
Markiezaat (1400 ha): brackish, but gradually becoming
a freshwater marsh area with a wealth of breeding and migratory birds. Until
1983 it was part of the Eastern Scheldt but has been separated from it by the
construction of the Oesterdam and the canal from Rotterdam to Antwerp. Mainly
located in the province of North Brabant. Not accessible.
Veerse Meer (954 ha): former estuary (Veerse Gat),
since 1961 a freshwater lake with large numbers of water birds; the open water
mainly has a recreational function, but the flats and islands are nature areas.
At the southern part of the Veerse Meer lie the Middleplaten, a former salt
marsh area, now grasslands with a wealth of rare plants, breeding birds (e.g.
Cormorant and Avocet) and migratory birds (ducks and geese). Veerse Meer is
freely accessible, but the Middleplaten are only accessible during excursions
(tel. (+31)-113-251022).
Dune landscape
On top of the islands along the North Sea coast Young Dunes are present, which
have formed on the interrupted sand barriers.
Kop van Schouwen – Zeepeduinen (1550 ha): varied
dune area with impressive drifting sand dunes, moist dune valleys and cultivated
pine forest; with a wealth of original dune flora and fauna. Zeepeduinen is
partially accessible, the rest of the area is freely accessible on cycle paths
and footpaths.
Manteling-Zeeduin-Oranjezon (474 ha): nicely vegetated
dune area consisting of a series of country estates (with a wealth of forest
birds and formerly cultivated flora) and the former water-collection area Oranjezon.
For a major part freely accessible.
Cultural landscapes
Behind the Young Dunes of Schouwen lies a characteristic "vroon" landscape
with extensive agricultural use. The Zeeland cultural landscape is dominated
by primarily flat and open clay polders. The Delta area is however mainly known
for its spectacular achievements of civil engineering: the Delta Plan with its
dams, sluices and bridges which connect the islands as well as insure their
safety.
Nature Management
In several locations, the management is aimed at restoring the natural situation,
e.g. in the dunes of Manteling (Walcheren), where water collection has been
terminated, and Kop van Schouwen, where drifting sands are used to stimulate
new dunes. In the Delta waters the management is aimed at the improving the
water quality. And in the Voordelta the management is aimed at letting natural
processes have their course. For a major part this has been done by NGOs, of
which some have been co-operating together with the name Kust en Zee, initiated
by EUCC-The Coastal Union. Concerning the dunes, Stichting Duinbehoud and its
working group Midden Zeeland have played a pioneering role. Fortunately, the
conservation of the coastal landscape has achieved a high priority in nature
management on national level. Natural values now play a large role in the Dutch
coastal policy, e.g. concerning coastal defence.
Visitors’ centres
Waterland Neeltje
Jans: Everything about safety and nature in Zeeland, incl. Delta
Expo, excursions, artificial island Neeltje Jans. Tel. 0111 652702. Can be reached
by scheduled service bus between Middelburg and metro station Spijkenisse (which
can be reached from Rotterdam). www.neeltjejans.nl
Saeftinge:
information center open from 1 April till 31 October; Emmaweg 4, Emmadorp. Tel.
(+31)-114 633110
‘t Zwin: the Dutch visitors’ centre for ‘t Zwin.
Gerrit van Hoekstraat 2, Retranchement. Tel. (+31)-117-39221. On the Flemish
side, there is also a visitors’ centre with a bird park.