No matter where you may find yourself in Middelburg, nature is always only ten minutes away. The beach, the woods and meadows surround the Zeeland capital. Vast green strips of land where you can enjoy the silence. No matter what direction you head in, you can be smack in the middle of nature in just minutes.
We dare say that Middelburg has the most beautiful backyard in all of the Netherlands.
The star-shaped green bastions were placed around Middelburg to protect the city in the old days. In 1800, the bastions were converted into a city park according to the English style, with a green strip where you can walk and picnic. For the fitness buffs among us: the bastions span approx. 5 kilometers and that makes this a popular location for joggers.
But, you can also just stroll along the bastions, old windmills and waterways and enjoy the calm. In the summer, Middelburgers sunbathe atop the green hills. Pick up a bottle of wine and a baguette in the city and you have the ideal location where you can sit with friends and enjoy the sunset.
A real city park. At the edge of the bastions, you will find a green area called Molenwater Park, in the center of town. The park is closely intertwined with the city and you can enter from various sides. You can enter the park via the lovely new Theater and choose to follow one of the softly winding paths. People playing sports, school kids, families, sun worshippers: the park is a place where all Middelburgers come together.
The park also has another function. Beneath all this greenery, the park offers 2000 m³ of space for the temporary storage of water. This massive basin under the park protects the center of Middelburg from water damage in the event of heavy rains. The rain water drainage systems of the surrounding buildings are connected to this network. The pond or "water square" in the park shows how high the groundwater is.
Why not dip your bare feet in the water? The most beautiful beaches of Zeeland are all within biking distance from Middelburg. Sit back and enjoy the sunset, play a round of beach tennis or take a dive into the sea. Nothing feels better than a refreshing trip to the beach, and once you've cleaned the sand from between your toes, you can sit on one of the many terraces in Middelburg for a bite and a drink.
You can rent a bike in the city at Rens Petiet and cycle along the pastures and through the woods to one of the best beaches in Walcheren. On the way, you can have an ice cream and stroll through lovely Veere.
