Riparian running in Veere

For a lovely nature walk along streams, creeks and marinas around the picturesque Veere in Zeeland (Nl) you can park for free behind the bus stop on the corner of Veerseweg and Sandenburghlaan (V). The dog leaves you at home. He is not allowed on some trails in nature reserve. Cross the asphalt and take the cobblestones of the Veerseweg on the left. It turns to the right and at the Oostwatering pumping station you walk along to the left to walk up the dike at the stairs on the right. You now follow the asphalt of the Buitenhaven on the right with a view of ships, bridges and locks. Further on, that asphalt briefly turns into clinkers, then grass. • At a fence you step onto the Veere-Middelburg towpath, nature reserve of the Zeeuws Landschap. Two kilometers further you come into a wide bend at walking junction 44. Turn right now and past the picnic bench (1) follow on the left and at an information board turn right to Camping Poppenkinderenburg and Theeschenkerij De Blauwe Reiger (open during the summer months) (2). Turn left and turn left again at junction 42. Meadows with horses and cows, hares, skylarks, herons, swallows and geese, depending on the season you can see them all. Continue until junction 41 and take Vioskeweg on the right. At the end of that you come to the N663. Cross it carefully, follow the cycle path to the left and after 150 metres take the Golsteinseweg on the right. • This way you come to a river, the Veerse Watergang. Take the narrow grass path to the right and enjoy a wonderful view over meadows and fields along the reeds. At junction 47 there is another picnic bench (3). Keep left over the bridge and right follow the waterway on the other bank. Almost two kilometers you walk right-left between the fields. Sturdy, ankle-high shoes come in handy on the sometimes muddy route. • Again you cross a bridge and change banks. This time you follow the Botjeszeekreek. You arrive at junction 16, cross the bridge on the left and follow the concrete cycle path. 300 meters further you come to a meadow. Cross the roadway carefully and take the Landschuurweg on the right. Soon you walk along the Veerse Bos. At a parking lot you take the parallel sandy path through that forest. At a T-junction, keep left, back onto Landschuurweg and cross the bridge to junction 15. In front of you are the Klein Museum van Veere – actually an emergency farm from WW II – and the Nature Camping Site Het Veerse Gat (4). • At the junction, follow the bank of Veerse Kreek on the right. At the head of the creek you walk up the stone stairs with benches and extensive information boards about nature experience and recreation (5). The view over the creek is even more beautiful. Cross the roadway carefully and walk right onto the dike past the marina. Another fence through and over the grass towards Veere. You will soon get the blunt church tower, an old mill and the town hall with its carillon in sight. • Keep following the dike until you reach the city walls. A spiral staircase (6) under a turret leads you down, there you walk through the fortress wall and back outside you take the stairs sharply left up the stairs to junction 74. You can take a look on the left at windmill De Koe (7) and take a ferry to the cannons from the Napoleonic era. By the way, it was Bonaparte who had Veere reinforced. But eventually you walk right up the restored sea walls. Just past the right-angled bend to the left, descend the stairs and cross the marina drawbridge via Bastion. The shortest way to the car park is via the Kapellestraat to the double church of Veere (8). The large Onze-LieveVrouwekerk was designed by the Mechelen architect Antoon Keldermans. Then turn right through the Oudestraat and along the 16th-century well onto the Veerseweg until you reach your car. But we can't imagine that you haven't made a detour on your own along the nice shops, brocante traders, cafes and coffee houses of Veere.