Drinking and dining in Zeeland
Culinary routes in Zeeland
Zeeland has a rich tradition of delicious fare: it’s just waiting to be discovered! You can find it in the orchards of Zuid-Beveland and in Zeeland’s abundance of natural resources. Plan a culinary road trip in an old Mini Cooper or cycle your way around Zeeland-Flanders putting together your own recipes. What better way is there to discover Zeeland’s culinary heritage than by following a route along its many highways and byways? We’ve put together six of the best routes for you below. Miles and miles of culinary delights are just waiting for you!
1. Routes through the orchards of Zuid-Beveland
The district around Borsele on the island of Zuid-Beveland just happens to be the Netherlands’ largest fruit-producing region. Its proliferation of fruit orchards reflects this fact, from apples and pears to blackcurrants. In April and May, the orchards are in full bloom and it’s the ideal time to witness this profusion of colour which can be best experienced by bike or on foot. Some growers sell their fruit along the roadside. Check out our fruit blossom cycle routes here or our walking trail.
2. Proef de Oosterschelde route
Would you like to find out more about the special relationship Zeeland has with oysters and mussels? If so, there’s a special 3.9-kilometre walking trail near the fishing settlement of Yerseke, called the Proef de Oosterschelde route (literally, ‘savour the Oosterschelde’. The town, which lies on the Oosterschelde estuary, has a long history of shellfish cultivation. Visit some of the oyster beds in the town and sample oysters fresh from the sea. By bike, you can find out a lot more about these amazing natural resources. For example, try out the walking trail: ‘Zilte route langs mosselen en oesters’, which takes in the mud flats along the Oosterschelde and Westerschelde estuaries where these shellfish are harvested.
3. Culinary route in an old Mini Cooper
Want to try something completely different? Perhaps a culinary road trip in an old Mini Cooper tickles your fancy? We have put together a unique package whereby you can hire a Mini Cooper which allows you to take a culinary route of your own choosing. This is enjoyment guaranteed! Check out Zeeland’s fresh produce, for example, its fresh mussels or the special ‘bolus’. Read more about this special culinary road trip here!
4. Collect recipes as you ride through Zeeland-Flanders
Create your own pancakes with milk from a milk-vending station, eggs from the farm shops and flour from an authentic windmill. Sounds good? We have good news for you: in Zeeland-Flanders, there are waymarked routes that enable you to collect ingredients for your own recipes as you cycle along. In this way you can bake or cook with local products, as well as watch the countryside go by too. Choose one of the recipes below and check out the route you need to follow.
5. Culinary cycle route in Schouwen-Duiveland
There is also a shop-as-you-cycle route in Schouwen-Duiveland. Stop along the way at local traders and fill up your cycle bag with fresh produce. The 38.7-kilometre route starts and finishes in Zierikzee and follows in part the shoreline of the Oosterschelde estuary and takes in the delights of the inland countryside too. Stops include the De Kleine Schorre vineyards and the De Stolpe cheese farm. Bon appetit! Check out the route here.
6. Plan your own route fruit-and-veg route
Happily, Zeeland has countless farm shops, roadside fruit and vegetable stalls, apiaries, nurseries, as well as fresh vending machines and milk stations where you can buy ultra-fresh products direct from the source. You can do your shopping by bike whilst at the same time enjoying the delights of Zeeland’s countryside. 'Lekkerder bij de Boer' is an app - designed in Zeeland - which lists all every farm shop and other outlets selling local products. You can plan your route accordingly.
