The Delta Works are an impressive background for this long-distance cycle as well as a beautiful connection between the isles of the south-western Dutch delta region. You cycle in a beautiful landscape where water and land continuously alternate - you often cycle outside the dykes.

Flood
After the North Sea flood of 1953, it was decided to construct the Delta Works. Thanks to these impressive constructions, the southwestern part of the Netherlands is much safer. The Delta Works consist of 13 dams and surge barriers. The construction lasted from right after the flood until 1997. During the building process, safety was not the only thing that was of importance. Nature and quality of life were also important factors. The Delta Works ensure in every way that life is good in the southwest of the Netherlands.

The route
Follow (the nodes of) the route and learn more about the Delta Works and their surroundings. The node numbers are also to be found along the route on cycling network signs. You can start the route anywhere you like and decide for yourself to cycle it clockwise or counterclockwise. The total journey is 214 km. 

How does it work?
Download the route. Turn on your phone’s GPS signal so you can see where you are . Then Start biking. Go to the route’s start location. If you want to start at a different point, just check which number you encounter first and start from there. 

Information along the route
During your cycling tour you can read, see or hear more information about a point of interest. The information on the Delta Works may come in the form of a text, video or audio fragment. Tip: safety first - get off your bike to take in the information, and enjoy your surroundings. 

When starting at Neeltje Jans, follow the node numbers: 70 – 04 – 03 – 30 – 31 – 32 – 36 – 34 – 35 – 48 – 40 – 50 – 25 – 35 – 48 – 51 – 67 – 56 – 55- -57 – 64 – 62 – 63 – 99 – 43 – 42 – 98 – 73 – 94 – 75 – 76 – 78 – 51 – 72 – 77 – 40 – 25 – 20 – 10 – 11 – 84 – 19 – 14 – 15 – 12 – 30 – 31 – 29 – 98 – 99 – 90 – 67 – 66 – 65 – 02 – 09 – 06 – 07 – 08 – 90 – 91 – 88 – 87 – 86 – 85 – 83 – 82 – 80 – 81 – 71 – 70.

Highlights:

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Neeltje Jans: Work island Oosterscheldekering

The Oosterscheldekering consists of more than just pillars. In the middle of the Oosterschelde, you find the isle of Neeltje Jans, which also forms a water barrier. Prior to the Delta Works, this was a sand bank. Neeltje Jans was made into an island for the construction of the Oosterscheldekering. Its pillars were built here. Subsequently, they were towed from here to their definitive spot. Neeltje Jans is now a beautiful duneland area. It has been taken over by nature – although you can still spot its old ports. They are now home to mussel farms. Suggestion: this is a fine spot for a dune hike. Along the way, you will see a bird blind and you get to cross a tidal creek.

Click here to watch the video.

The Oosterscheldekering is very unique because it's always open. Listen to the podcast.

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Veerse Gatdam

Veerse Gatdam is part of the Delta Works. Click here to watch the video.

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De Schotsman: Beautiful natural area thanks to the Veerse Gatdam

When the Veerse Gat was closed off by the Veerse Gatdam, an area of great natural beauty was created. Zeeland had gained a lake, and many sand banks turned into solid land or islands. One of those is de Schotsman. This new part of Zeeland was turned into a nature reserve and recreational area. Trees were planted and nowadays it is a place where you can find both woodland and meadows. De Schotsman boasts all kinds of extraordinary animals and plants. You can spot impressive Highland cattle here. These bovines keep the grass short, allowing unique meadow plants like wild orchids to grow here.

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Veere: Historic town by the lake

Veere is one of Zeeland’s most beautiful towns. Everywhere you look, you can see imposing buildings, ancient alleyways and monumental townhouses and warehouses. They form a living memory of the wealth Veere enjoyed for centuries thanks to their direct access to the sea. They traded a lot with Scotland (be sure to take a look at the Schotse Huizen on the Kaai that are reminiscent of these times). Fishing was an important source of income as well. Fishermen from Arnemuiden used Veere as their port, when they lost access to the sea themselves. After the Veerse Gatdam was built, they moved to Vlissingen. People still sail from Veere, but nowadays that is mostly done just to enjoy the Veerse Meer.

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Veerse Meer

Veerse meer is a very popular spot for practising watersports. In particular windsurfing. Click here to watch the video

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De Piet: Nice spot to explore the Veerse Meer

De Piet is a branch of the Veerse Meer. It is surrounded by a small scenic area where you can go for a stroll. You also find meadows here where you can sit and enjoy the sun and/or a picknick. What makes De Piet really good fun, is that it is a great place to enjoy water sports. The Veerse Meer is dotted with islands. Before the lake was closed off from the sea, these were sand banks. Now most of them are open for recreational use. You can paddle there in a (rental) canoe. And if you think this may be a bit too far for you, you could also just paddle along De Piet. That is a beautiful spot too!

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Zandkreekdam

The Zandkreekdam is the first of the Delta Works in Zeeland. Click here to watch the video.

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Wemeldinge

Do you know that Wemeldinge is very famous for its diving locations. Discover what the under water world looks like. 

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Yerseke: Mussel and oyster hotspot

Everywhere you look around you in Yerseke, you will find a mussel restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious dinner. And the port boasts a huge fleet of mussel cutters. But Yerseke is home to more than just a mussel industry; they trade in all kinds of shellfish here, such as cockles and oysters. The oyster pits take a central place in the village. Here, shellfish are rinsed and stored – the pits are a kind of wet storage. If you would like to know more about the mussel and oyster industry, a visit to the Oosterscheldemuseum is highly recommended. The fact that the Oosterschelde is still home to many shellfish is thanks to the Oosterscheldekering, which lets saltwater flow freely into the estuary. 

Do you know how to open oysters? Watch here.

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Roelshoek: Drowned villages

You can find drowned villages all over Zeeland. There are about 120 of them. From the north shore of Zuid-Beveland you can see an entire drowned area: the Verdronken Land van Zuid-Beveland. Nowadays, this is a beautiful nature reserve with salt marshes and mud flats, but once you could find the villages of Schoudee, Nieuwlande and Tolsende here. There even was a town: Reimerswaal. The remains of these settlements are now covered in mud and they are of a high architectural value. The Delta Works were constructed to prevent more of Zeeland’s villages from drowning.

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Bathse Spuisluis

The 'Bathse Spuisluis' is one of the less famous of the Delta Works. Click here to watch the video.

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Oesterdam

At the Oesterdam, it's allowed to take 10 kg a day. Do you know what to look for? Click here to watch the video with some tips.

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De Kop van Tholen

Click here for more information about 'De Kop van Tholen'.

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Rammegors: Nature reserve becoming silty

The Delta Works have a great influence on nature. Sometimes these changes can be undone. When the Krabbenkreekdam and the Oostdam were built, the Rammegors got closed off from its saltwater supply. Over the years, it turned into a freshwater zone. At the same time, many of the Oosterschelde’s salt marshes and mudflats disappeared due to the construction of the Oosterscheldekering. That is why it was decided in 2010 to turn the Rammegors into a tidal area once again. It will take years and years, but slowly and steadily, the Rammegors is becoming silty again. This ensures that there is still room for the unique flora and fauna that flourishes in an area like that.

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Zuid-Holland’s Masterpieces: The Delta Works protect so much more than just Zeeland

Just about everyone knows that the Delta Works serve to protect Zeeland. But the North Sea flood of 1953 also struck in the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Zuid-Holland. Zuid-Holland boasts four formidable Delta Works. They ensure that you are safe from water up to the province of Utrecht. The Haringvlietsluizen offer protection against the sea and regulate the water level. The Hollandsche IJsselkering was the first Delta Work ever built. The Hartelkering has the largest lifting cylinders in Europe. The Maeslantkering is extremely impressive. Its gigantic emergency sluice door at the Nieuwe Waterweg is the waterwork with the largest moveable parts in the world. Watch the video and listen to the podcast to get to know more about Zuid-Holland's masterpieces.

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Philipsdam en Volkeraksluizen

Click here for more information about the Philipsdam and Volkeraksluizen.

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Grevelingendam

Click here to watch the video and receive for more information about the Grevelinendam.

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Bruinisse: Mussel hotspot thanks to the Oosterscheldekering

Bruinisse is a true mussel hotspot. In its port you can find many big mussel cutters and by the shore there are all kinds of companies that work directly or indirectly for the mussel industry, such as wharfs. In the water, you can spot many blue barrels which belong to mussel spawn collection systems. The fact that Bruinisse is still a mussel hotspot nowadays is, just like in Yerseke, thanks to the Oosterscheldekering. But for its sluice doors, the Oosterschelde would have turned into a freshwater area where mussels cannot survive. Tip: if you want to know all about the mussel and fishing industry, visit Brusea where you can see, among others, an authentic fisherman’s house.

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Watersnoodmuseum

Click here to watch stories about the rich water history of the Netherlands. Visit the museum for more interactive stories and impressive movies.

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Zeelandbrug

You have probably already seen the 'Zeelandbrug'. It connects Schouwen-Duiveland with Noord- Beveland. Click here to watch the movie. 

06

Zierikzee: Visit the historic port

Zierikzee is brimful of monuments. A grandiose city gate here, an entire row of imposing mansions there… And let’s not forget the gigantic Sint-Lievens Monstertoren. It is a feast for the eyes! Aside from the beautiful monumental history, you can also enjoy maritime heritage in Zierikzee. Historical vessels, owned by Museumhaven Zeeland, are moored in the Oude Haven. The museum boasts authentic hoogaars (flat-bottom) ships such as Vrouwe Adriana from 1878, but also the Vabel, a flat-bottom ship from 1890. When you visit the museum, you may come aboard these vessels.

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Listening underwater with dry ears

At the end of the breakwater of Zierikzee’s port porpoises can be spotted on a regular basis. They swim freely here and have entered the Oosterschelde via the direct connection with the North Sea that is still open thanks to the Oosterscheldekering. If you would like to get better acquainted with these dolphin-like creatures, you can listen to them. There is an audio station on the breakwater. If they are nearby, you can listen live to their clicks, buzzes, beeps and groans. Hunting porpoises make a lot of sound, because they use their ‘sonar’ to find their prey. The porpoises are not here all day. When they are gone, you can listen to recordings.

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Observation Tower Prunje: Beautiful view of a bird paradise

The construction of the Delta Works changed the course of waterflows in the Oosterschelde. That is why many places where birds used to rest or feed, have disappeared. When this became clear, action was taken. At the southern coast of Schouwen-Duiveland a nature reserve was made, for instance. It is often called Plan Tureluur or Prunje. Thanks to its salt marshes, dry areas and lots of shallow water and waterlogged land, this is a true bird paradise. During high tide, many coastal birds come here to rest. You can also spot all kinds of geese and farmland birds here. The observation tower in the Prunjepolder offers a perfect view.

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Brouwersdam: A very natural dam

The Brouwersdam closes off the Grevelingen from the North Sea. The main purpose of the dam is to shorten and strengthen the coastline. Thanks to the dam, a large part of the hinterland is well protected. But during the construction of the dam, safety was not the only thing that was taken into account. This was the first Delta Work where the Directorate General for Public Works and Water Management went further than the technical requirements. Landscape architects were involved to ensure that everything would fit in with the landscape and tourists would feel right at home. They more than succeeded. The Brouwersdam is a water sports hotspot and large parts of the dam look almost like natural dunes.

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Plompe Toren and Schelphoek

The 'Plompe Toren' are the remains of the prosperous fishing village Koudekerke. But what happened to the village? According to an old legend, the curse has conquered the village. Listen here to know how the legend ends. You will be surprised.

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