From: Bernhardstraat, 4554AG Westdorpe, Zeeland, Netherlands
To: Bernhardstraat, 4554AG Westdorpe, Zeeland, Netherlands

Routing: Walking - junctions, Walking - most beautiful

After leaving the natural area Canisvliet at junction 30, you go along the dyke by the Terneuzen canal towards Ghent and the bridge. After this, there follows a beautiful description by Mr. J. de Baets with the continuation of the journey through the center of Westdorpe.

When we walk under the bridge, it is still hard to imagine that there used to be a lock here at a small fort called "het Pas." The only thing that reminds us of this is the name of the hamlet "Passluis." We now find ourselves on the Graafjansdijk, part of the Landdijk, which was constructed to protect the land behind it from multiple floods during the 15th century.

We pass the Vissersverkorting, and after about a hundred meters, we see on the left side of the road the “Hof van Autriche,” a farm with a distinctive thatched barn. Surrounding this national monument is currently a small campsite. At the entrance stand two so-called “Oostenrijkers,” boundary markers from the 18th century featuring on one side the state lion and on the other side the double-headed Austrian eagle. A little further on, we take the path to the left at the bottom of the dyke. Immediately we stand before an old farmstead with a long driveway. This was the birthplace of Jan Dellaert, founder and designer of our national airport Schiphol. We walk further along the top of the dyke and pass Jan Dellaertstraat. Behind house number A153, we see a large "French roof" barn. This remarkable building served as the village church of Westdorpe for seven years after the then existing church was lost due to the violence of war. Standing in front of the house, we see directly in front of us a small, special building with a pointed roof. It is an old transformer station, beautifully restored. If you are lucky, the door is open, and you can take a look inside. To the left is a parallel path, the Spoorweg. A remnant of the tram line that provided transport for beets and passengers until 1949. We remain on top of the dyke, and we almost immediately see on the right one of the old breweries of our village, the "Witte Leeuw." From 1900 until after the last world war, Westdorpe had three significant breweries. The importance of this industry was immense and even today these breweries still form a lively part of our heritage. The Westdorps beer was known far beyond the national borders.

The walk takes us further past the only hotel in the village, and soon we find ourselves at the village square where, besides several notable residences, the church attracts the most attention. What stands out the most here is the shape of the tower. This is not topped with a spire as is customary, but with a gable roof. We owe this to a Frisian designer who applied this style during the construction after the war. Behind the access gate of the cemetery stands the atmospheric monument to the deceased citizens during this last war. Currently, in the church building, there is a brand-new multifunctional center and a very interesting museum where you can find the history and archaeology of the village. If we now follow the path further, we will come to the right side of a rise in the sidewalk, colloquially known as “de Molenberg.” This reminds us that there used to be a windmill here. In front of house number B14, there stands again an example of an “Oostenrijker.” The house itself is a typical example of Art Nouveau style with a beautiful roof ornament. After about a hundred meters, by the former Concordia building, we turn right. The natural path takes us through the Molenkreek and the Schuttersweide into the Molenstaart. We turn left, and after the little bridge over the water, we immediately go right. The partly paved road leads us through fields and water back to the starting point of the walk.