Breezand and the Eastern Scheldt

Friday 2022/09/16

Yesterday at Camping De Zandput in Vrouwenpolder (Walcheren) in the Dutch province of Zeeland arrived. Vrouwenpolder borders the Oranjezon Nature Park, the Veerse Meer and Breezand. The beach is the widest North Sea beach in this area. Here you experience Zeeland in all its beauty, unless it's pouring buckets and the storm wind is roaring through the dunes like today.

From Vrouwenpolder it's not far to admire the impressive Eastern Scheldt Barrier. The Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier is undoubtedly the most impressive water-defensive structure in the Netherlands: a gigantic, approximately nine-kilometer-long construction consisting of 65 enormous concrete pillars. During storms, the sliding gates are closed, ensuring the safety of the hinterland.

The Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier is the showpiece of the Delta Works and an internationally renowned hydraulic engineering structure. Even before its construction, it triggered fierce political debates and protests. Finally, it was decided that the barrier should not be a closed dyke, but an open protective facility. This is how the Eastern Scheldt remained open: a saline and unique natural area was preserved for Zeeland and fishing.

The nine-kilometer tidal dam is also a road connection between Schouwen-Duiveland and Noord-Beveland and is part of the N 57. We drove over it today - impressive!