A fun day out in Zeeland: discover Yerseke and the Yerseke Moer by e-bike & scooter from Goes
There are places in Zeeland where time hasn’t just stood still – history literally lies on the surface. The Yerseke Moer is one of those places. As you ride past, you see a landscape that looks like a green sheet that hasn’t been pulled tight: bumps, hollows and unexpected differences in height everywhere. No, this isn’t a modern landscaping project. It’s the result of the medieval ‘salt fever’.
Traces of white gold
In the past, salt – white gold – was essential for preserving food. The people of Zeeland discovered that the peat beneath the clay here was saturated with salt water. What followed was ‘moernering’: digging up and burning that peat to extract the salt. The result? A gigantic Swiss cheese.
What I find so fascinating about the Yerseke Moer is that you can still see that hard labour from hundreds of years ago. Those bumps are the remains of the soil the peat diggers threw aside as waste. It’s really a centuries-old industrial monument, now overgrown with beautiful grass.
Why an e-scooter or e-bike is the perfect match
If you really want to experience this area, you need to feel the wind while keeping the peace. The Yerseke Moer is a bird reserve of international importance. Tens of thousands of geese, avocets and redshanks find peace here. That’s exactly why we at Vlot are so enthusiastic about combining it with electric transport. On one of our silent e-scooters or electric bikes, you glide through the landscape without disturbing nature. You hear the wind in the reeds and the calls of the birds, while you ride effortlessly into the Zeeland wind.
Watch out for the ‘upside-down’ world
A tip for when you head out: take a good look at roads such as the Vlakeweg. You’ll notice the road is often higher than the surrounding land. That’s due to ‘relief inversion’. The roads lie on old sandy creek ridges that didn’t compact, while the peat next to them sank by metres over the centuries. So you’re literally riding along the bed of a prehistoric creek.
A day in Zeeland the way it’s meant to be
A visit to the Yerseke Moer is an experience for young and old. The kids look out for the many bird species, while culture lovers marvel at the history preserved here. Fancy a unique day out around Yerseke? Book an electric scooter or bike at Vlot and set off to explore this unique part of Zeeland. It’s the perfect mix of fresh air, Zeeland history and modern convenience
