Veere and its surroundings
Veere attracts many tourists during the summer months. Ten thousands of visitors come every year to taste the atmosphere of this beautiful historic town. If you are interested to come and look at our harps, but still have doubts because it takes a long journey to Veere, I’d like to give you some ideas to have a very pleasant day or even a weekend there. Harpatelier De Zingende Snaar is also opened by appointment on Saturdays, Sundays, and evenings. You can therefore combine a visit to the Atelier with a day on the beach, a visit to Veere and/or Middelburg or perhaps even the impressive Neeltje Jans waterworks. An impression of Veere and its surroundings:
Veere, cultural history in the middle of nature 
At the annual competition for the title 'the greenest town of the Netherlands' (Entente Florale) of the year 2000 Veere took second place. This is well deserved: you’ll see this walking through historical Veere. Wherever you walk in this old town, your surroundings are always plunged in green. Trees, shrubs and private gardens, everywhere you look you find proof of the love for nature with care and eye for detail. Even the littlest corners show our cultural history interwoven with nature. As a result, history lives in Veere; the past is tangible.
Veere is one of the most surprising places in Zeeland, a dream from a previous life. The ancient borough, contemporary hospitality, and the immediacy of the always-inspiring water. You can see splendid merchant and pack houses with stepped gables, funnel-shaped gables, bell-shaped gables etc. on the 'Kaai' ( Quai) and the marketplace. The names of many houses and the gable stones tell of the trade, of its products and of the countries or harbours they sailed to.
Thus the 'Struys'
and the 'Lammeken' remind to the wool trade with Scotland.
The town hall was taken into use by the governors of Veere in the year 1474.
Statues of the lords and ladies of Veere, occupants of the castle Sandenburgh, can still be found in niches in the walls of this impressive building. From their high position they look down to the ordinary people. Besides a functioning as a governing board centre, up to 1811 the town hall doubled as courthouse. In the course of five centuries this was the place where the clergymen worked, where the bailiff pronounced death verdicts and kings were received with pride and splendour.
Dutch ingenuity is found in the use of the grand church as well: during centuries this majestic hall has been in use as a package house, barracks, military hospital, beggar work place and exhibition facility! Today this unfinished cathedral is the home the foundation for new music “Nieuwe Muziek Zeeland”. Very interesting concerts of contemporary composers are programmed here, but the church is also available for classical and jazz concerts. Attached to the large building there’s a small chapel that is still in use for worship.
Beaches
Both in 2003, and in 2004, the municipality of Veere has the cleanest beaches of the Netherlands! For that the municipality has received the golden streamer. It is not for nothing that the beaches of Oostkapelle, Domburg and Vrouwenpolder are found in the Dutch top 10.
Attraction park Waterland Neeltje Jans
Neeltje Jans is an artificial
island near the flood turning dam ('stormvloedkering') of the Oosterschelde.
Today this area has been developed for recreational purposes. The attraction
park offers the possibility to tourists in a very distinct manner to learn a lot
of things about water management. Neeltje Jans is a perfect place for the whole family.
People of all ages can have fun at the water playground,
where everything is about water. Many foreign tourists are not aware of the
strength of water and how much damage water can cause to the land. It is this
reason that Waterland Neeltje Jans makes it possible to experience the 'stormvloedkering'
from close by. On one of the pillars, the tourists can experience the strength
of water themselves. The Delta Works, as they are called , are impressively
shown at the waterpark. The controls of this
flood regulating dam, are placed in the ir. J.W. Tops house, the central
service building.
You’ll
find the Visitor Centre for the
Delta Expo there.The exhibition shows 2000 years of water engineering in the
Netherlands, the delta, and the flood turning dam of the Oosterschelde. Visitors
can make a walk in the interior of the dam.
The research centre for dolphins of Waterland Neeltje Jans cooperates with 'dolfinarium Harderwijk'
Middelburg
Middelburg
is the capital of Zeeland and presently the fifth monument city of the
Netherlands. In the ambient centre of the town there are more than 1200
monuments and many shops, terraces, cafés and restaurants. Middelburg is a very
attractive town to spend a day out, shopping or admiring the monuments. Thursday
is market day.
Historical Middelburg
A town wall is very entertaining, you’ll learn many facts about our cultural history. The abbey complex with the 'Lange Jan' and the museum are must see. Also, the Gothic town hall, the circular shaped East Church and the old pack houses from VOC trading ages are worth a look. A quiet walk through the many small historical streets, alleys and small squares make your visit to Middelburg simply unforgettable.
The Market
The beating heart of Middelburg is the marketplace. It is where several shopping streets come together in front of the beautiful GothicTown Hall. There is a products market every Thursday. There’s a good variety of shops in Middelburg. In small streets around the large shop streets you find numerous little independent shops. After shopping you can enjoy a meal on one of the many terraces or in a good restaurant.
Events
Music festivals such as Bløf on the market on 'koninginnedag', exhibitions, the weekly market on Thursday, the market on the fish market, the village fair, the jazz festival, the blues route, the folk days, the stand worker competition, the 'braderie', the mussel festivals, the Street parade, monthly art - and culture route, monthly shop opening on Sundays, the defense days and all kinds of activities around the Zeeland after summer festival is only part of all the events
Attractions
You can see the peninsula of Walcheren twenty times reduced in Miniature Walcheren, or make a boat trip through the centre or on the 'Veerse meer' lake. Also town walks and guided tours in the Gothic Town Hall are popular.
More information is available at: Tourist shop Middelburg.