Schenge Route
Duration: 2.5 hours
Distance: 35-40 kilometres
Places: Veerse Meer, Midden-Zeeland Airfield, Goese Sas, Wolphaartsdijk
Start in Goes and ride past charming villages, Midden-Zeeland Airfield and the Veerse Meer. Enjoy the lively atmosphere in the marina at Wolphaartsdijk, stop for a bite or a drink, and return to Goes via the Zeeland dykes and the Goese Sas with its beautiful views.
Description The outward leg of this route starts in Goes and takes you via various tree-lined dykes and villages – such as Eindewege, home to the listed windmill Nooit Gedacht – to the furthest point of the route: Midden-Zeeland Airfield. Take some time to spot the planes and parachutists – there’s plenty to see. Then head towards Wolphaartsdijk. This route runs entirely along the Veerse Meer, and you can stop at any moment to enjoy the view at your leisure. Since 1960, the Veerse Meer has been completely cut off from the North Sea and the Oosterschelde as part of the Delta Plan, turning it into a still lake: the water no longer moved or flowed. As a result, the water quality deteriorated sharply, and in 2004 a passage was made in the Zandkreekdam: the Katse Heule. The Veerse Meer is an attractive water sports spot for windsurfers, sailors, anglers and divers.
Along the way you can stop at ZEEUWS ZILT, where samphire and sea aster are grown sustainably on the former seabed, getting their characteristic salty taste from the salt water of the Veerse Meer. Here you can take home your own fresh sea vegetables (also from the vending machine). The road continues towards “de Schelphoek”, which is always pleasantly busy on summer days. Because the water here is shallow, it’s also a great place for children to play in the water. A playful cycle route then brings you to the marina at Wolphaartsdijk, with 500 berths in total a very busy and lively area. Here you’ll find restaurant Meliefste, among others, which has held a Michelin star since March 2021. At brasserie Den Baas en zn Madam, you can enjoy Belgian beers on tap with a view over the Veerse Meer.
The last part of the route goes from the harbour at Wolphaartsdijk back to Hotel Waterstate in Goes. You ride a dyke route along the Veerse Meer and the Oosterschelde to the Goese Sas, a popular spot among locals for enjoying the view over the Oosterschelde and the Zeeland Bridge. Here you can take in the beautiful vistas, salt marshes, mudflats and abundant birdlife. At the Goese Sas you’ll find “Het Loze Vissertje”, a well-known café and restaurant in Goes since 1853. Het Loze Vissertje works with high-quality, fresh local produce and is the perfect final stop on this route.
