Page 260 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

258  WESTERN NE THERLANDS

r Goes
Road Map A5. * 24,000. @ £
n Singelstraat 13 (0113-235990).
( Tue, Sat.
Some of the historical towns
of Zeeland are charming yet
sleepy, but Goes is wide-awake.
Every Tuesday there is an old-
fashioned market featuring
fabrics and groceries which
takes place on a square full Imposing heraldic ornament on Goes Raadhuis
of Zeeland atmosphere, the
Grote Markt. The Raadhuis a tradition of oyster farming Zuid-Beveland, lost in 1530 along
(town hall), dating from and mussel fishing that has with Reimerswaal, at the time
1463 (rebuilt between 1771 continued until the present day. the third-largest Zeeland town.
and 1775), stands at the front The nature reserve Yerseke
of the square, representing Moer, to the west of the village,
the magistrates’ power with shows how the island used to y Nisse
all its bulk and loftiness. look: a desolate patchwork of Road Map A5. * 580. @
The rococo interior with its inlets, hamlets, rough pasture n see Goes.
grisailles and stucco ceiling lands, coves, peat moors and
is particularly attractive. The water holes. To the east of Yerseke Nisse is a typical Beveland
majestic St-Maria-Magdalenakerk lies the submerged land of village with square, ford and
(Church of Mary Magdalen) church. The church is worth a
(15th to 16th century) rises visit; though it does not look like
up behind the town hall. much from the outside, inside
The cruciform basilica has you will be surprised by unique,
been restored. 15th-century frescoes depicting
the saints, scenes from the life
of Mary and the coats of arms of
t Yerseke the Lords van Borssele. Carvings
on the choir vault and stalls are
Road Map A5. * 6,100. @ £
n Kerkplein 1 (0113-571864). ( Fri. also from the 15th century.
As they say in Zuid-Beveland, R Hervormde kerk
“De een zijn dood de ander zijn Key available from church secretary
brood” (“One man’s meat is Tel (0113-649780). Open Jul–Aug:
another man’s poison”). Yerseke 1:30–5pm Sat. 8 for groups only
came to be situated on the (call to book). ∑ mariakerk-nisse.nl
Oosterschelde following the
St-Felixstormvloed (St Felix A fishing boat in Yerseke bringing home Environs
storm flood) of 1530. So began the catch The Zak van Zuid-Beveland,
south of the railway line to
Middelburg, is characteristic for
Oyster Farming
its balance between nature and
Oysters apparently have all sorts of beneficial side effects, improved culture. The landscape is a
virility being the most well known. Whether this is true or not, this succession of polders, divided
slippery delicacy makes any meal seem festive. Oyster farming by dykes covered with flowers
began in 1870 when suitable parts of the river bed were no longer or sheep grazing.
available for free fishing and were transferred to private use. Oyster
farming flourished along the Oosterschelde, particularly in Yerseke,
but the oysters were vulnerable to disease and harsh winters. u Hulst
Concern that oyster
farming would be Road Map B5. * 10,800. @ n
impossible when the Steenstraat 37 (0114-315221). ( Mon.
Grevelingen was changed Cross over the Westerschelde
from an open estuary to
a lake after the comple- and you are simultaneously in
tion of the Delta Works Flanders and in the Netherlands.
(see pp250–51) has so far St-Willibrordus-basiliek
proved unfounded – the (St Willibrordus basilica) towers
oysters already are less above the town from afar.
Oysters, a tasty delicacy prone to disease. Generations of Keldermans, a
Mechelen building family, have
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p398 and pp411–12

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm