Renesse is a tourist village for family holidays on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland. This coastal hotspot’s beaches, terraces, shops and nightlife have made it a popular vacation destination for years.
Beach
Renesse’s sandy beach is about 17 kilometres long and lies next to the forests of Westerschouwen. The beaches near Renesse have won several awards for their cleanliness. They are divided into family beaches, water sports beaches and natural preserves.
Transferium
There is free parking (900 places) available at the Transferium, on the outskirts of Renesse. From there you can take a free bus to the beach, village or campsite between 15 May and 15 September.
Seals
The village has a special bond with seals. Off the coast of Renesse, you can regularly see them lying on the sandbanks. The number of seals in Zeeland waters has greatly increased in recent times, as has the number of sick or wounded seals. Perhaps a mother does not care for her young or flees from danger alone, leaving them unprotected. Thus, young criers are regularly found. All distressed seals are taken to a seal rehabilitation centre in Pieterburen in the north of the country, or to the nearby A Seal Foundation in Stellendam. Once they have recovered their strength, the seals are returned to the beach at Renesse and released. There is often a crowd of onlookers watching that special moment when the seals get their freedom again.
Events
The Fjoertoer walking tour in and around Renesse is a notable annual event. This evening walk along the beach and through the forests is illuminated by various light sources that create a wonderful atmosphere.
The annual Straô is another special event, which only takes place in villages along the west coast of Schouwen. A colourful procession of decorated horses tramps through the village to the beach, where their hooves are washed in the sea. The Straô tradition (derived from ‘strand’ – beach) grew when people took their horses to the sea to wash off the hooves and clean their wounds after a winter indoors. It was also believed that the sea water would drive out evil spirits.
Many events take place in Renesse, especially during the summer season.
Schouwen-Duiveland
Schouwen-Duiveland is a clear expression of Zeeland, Land-on-Sea. Surrounded by the North Sea, the Oosterschelde National Park and the Grevelingen lake, it is a maritime marvel. To its south-west, the Oosterschelde flood barrier, and over to the east, the flood disaster Watersnoodmuseum, are working monuments to our intense relationship with the sea.
On the western headland of Schouwen, the magnificent dunes offer space and oxygen to walkers, bikers, mountain bikers and athletes. The beaches can easily accommodate the endless flow of summer bathers. For bird lovers, the 4,400 ha Plan Tureluur nature park: it’s named after the (Dutch-warbling) redshank. Urbanites and historians have delights to savour in Zierikzee, while surrounding villages and polders form the contrasting green upcountry of the island.
You’ll see our relationship with water, near and far, in buildings and the landscape. Former creeks and flood zones are nature areas now, while some houses still bear the marks of high-water levels. The Plompe Toren has become a symbol for the very many villages which were swamped. To better understand the impact of the 1953 flood disaster, follow the special (car-)routes.
(Source: zeeland.com)