Zuidland – History, Water and Nature Trails
Accommodation in Zuidland
The historic village centre of Zuidland has been designated a protected town or village landscape by the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science.
File:17-129 Paneel Kreken van Nibbeland Zuidland Harregat.jpg
Photo: Archeologie Rotterdam (BOOR) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
History
The Dorpskerk Zuidland dates from the first half of the 15th century. Its tower was built around 1470 and still defines the village skyline today. The church was extended in several construction phases; shortly after the tower was built, a second nave was constructed parallel to the existing building.
The sequence of the medieval church building, tower and later second nave makes the various construction phases of the Dorpskerk comprehensible within a single village setting.
The history of Zuidland also includes the former Binnenhaven. It was created when a creek was dammed during the construction of the dikes and the section outside the dike was used as a harbour. In the 16th century, the harbour facility was dammed after the Bernisse had become too shallow for shipping. The harbour facility developed into a village pond.
The former harbour function and its later transformation are therefore closely linked to the Bernisse and the construction of the dikes. The historical sequence extends from the dammed creek, through its use as a harbour, to the development of the facility into a village pond.
The De Arend windmill was built in 1844 on behalf of Pieter de Gilde. If you visit the windmill on Saturdays, the visiting hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; on other days, a visit is possible when the sails are turning.
Nature
The Bernisse recreational area borders Zuidland. In the Spuimonding West area, a walking trail crosses the entire area via a bridge and a hand-operated ferry. From the Spuimonding West viewpoint, you can see a water-rich landscape as well as rare plants and animals.
The trail through Spuimonding West thus connects two different crossings: a bridge and a hand-operated ferry. The viewpoint bears the same area name and offers views of the water-rich landscape as well as rare plants and animals.
The Stompaardse-Plasroute begins and ends on Stationsweg in Zuidland. The named starting and finishing point is therefore on the same street in the village.
Water
Bootverhuur Bernisse provides access to the water between Simonshaven and Zuidland, in the heart of the Bernisse nature area. Fluisterboot Bernisse offers a guided circular tour through the nature and history of the Bernisse, with a guide on board.
The connection with the water thus extends from the area between Simonshaven and Zuidland to the accompanied circular tour on the Bernisse. During the Fluisterboot Bernisse tour, nature and history are presented together while a guide is on board.
Trails
The 40-kilometre cycling route Historische Haventjes Nissewaard runs over dikes and through villages in Nissewaard, including Zuidland. It offers insights into Zuidland’s former harbours as part of the region’s maritime history.
The cycling route therefore passes both dikes and villages in Nissewaard. Zuidland is one of the villages mentioned; the village’s former harbours appear along this route in the context of the region’s maritime history.
Other places
Other nearby destinations include Abbenbroek, Heenvliet, Simonshaven and Oudenhoorn.
For the broader travel overview: Bernisse.
