Zeeland sea dikes

Zeeland is a province of islands stitched together by dams and bridges, and this loop rides most of them. From Zierikzee the route crosses the five-kilometre Zeelandbrug on its separate cycle path, high enough to see the whole Oosterschelde estuary.

Noord-Beveland is small and flat and passes quickly. The route then turns onto the Oosterscheldekering, the storm barrier: nine kilometres of gates and artificial islands with the North Sea on one side and the estuary on the other. There is a café at the halfway island and not much else.

Schouwen is greener, with the dunes of Burgh-Haamstede and, further on, the polder back to Zierikzee. Ride clockwise on a south-westerly so the wind is behind you on the barrier; the other way round it is a long afternoon.

A junction sequence we have used

Numbers repeat between regions, so this string only means something on the map panels near Zierikzee harbour. Check it against the panel at the first junction before you set off.

Plan this ride

Dike roads are shared with farm traffic and, in summer, with a lot of other cyclists. Ride single file where the path is narrow and give way at the small ferries.