Welcome to Tholen
Welcome to the Travel Trade page of Eiland Tholen. Our marketing team is happy to inform you about the former islands of Tholen and Sint Philipsland as a tourist destination. Tholen is an undiscovered part of the province of Zeeland, in the south-west of the Netherlands. You are in Zeeland at less than an hour’s drive from Antwerp, Breda and Rotterdam. It’s closer than you think.
You will find two islands, surrounded by the largest national park in the Netherlands: the Oosterschelde. Here you can feel the wind in your hair and smell the salty sea in the air. A green landscape with old dikes, mills, farms and authentic towns. Surrounded by the Oosterschelde National Park. We are happy to inform you of which unique holiday possibilities this provides. We help you on your way with tips or work out a tailor-made (group) proposal for you. We can also put you in touch with accommodations, restaurants and locations for leisure activities. We can also take care of the whole organisation of your program so you don’t have to worry if all arrangements are confirmed and we trained a pool of local guides. In addition, we can offer various products, including promotional material, texts and images.
Contact:
Mail to Peter Henkes at traveltrade@eilandtholen.nl or call +31 (0)615077024
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Discover Tholen – tips to see and do
Oosterschelde National Park
Tholen is surrounded by the largest national park in the Netherlands, the Oosterschelde National Park. This offers unprecedented opportunities for diving, boating, swimming and fishing. With the Frisia (large groups) or the Zwerver 3 (small groups) you can go on the water. Let yourself sail and see the seals or enjoy one of the other packages such as a mussel cruise or an excursion to weir fishing.
Or rent a sailboat in one of the marinas and get on the water yourself.
A particularly fun and active challenge is exploring the wetland environment on a sup-board.
Streekmuseum de Meestoof (regional museum)
Always wanted to know how people used to live and where they worked? How did the people actually dress in Thoolse costumes? What did a school class look like in 1910? And how did the children learn at that time? Regional museum De Meestoof gives a nice overview of the former life and culture on the islands of Tholen and Sint Philipsland.
The museum, located in the former town hall of Sint-Annaland, has, in addition to a thematic exhibition that changes seasonally, an extensive permanent collection with historical items that come from the islands of Tholen and Sint Philipsland. The collection is composed of collector’s items and legacies. The permanent collection is housed in the main building and the adjacent barns. A sample of a Norwegian gift house (donated after the 1953 flood disaster) on the site is a museum piece in itself and can also be visited.
Roosevelt Information Center
Oud-Vossemeer is the village of Roosevelt. The ancestors of the former presidents of America, Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor Roosevelt come from Oud-Vossemeer. Their illustrious history and later influence on world history becomes clear in the Roosevelt information center. The information center is located in the Ambachtsherenhuis, which previously served as a court and town hall.
Watersnoodhuis
In Stavenisse you can visit the flood house, an information center where the story is told about the flood of 1953 on Tholen and Sint Philipsland and also about the period of recovery after that.
Local produce auction
In Sint-Annaland, the regional produce auction is a unique experience. In the only potato auction in the Netherlands, the general public gets the chance to take a seat in the auction benches on one day a week. You can then buy your favourite regional product via the auction clock. For groups it is also possible to organize these special auction sessions by appointment.
City walk fortified town of Tholen
Take a guided walk through this welcoming fortress on the water. Tholen-stad has been around for more than 650 years. You can experience the rich history of this large, small city during a fascinating walk through the historic heart of one of the most beautiful fortified towns in the Netherlands. Almost completely surrounded by water, it was traditionally very strategically located. In a group you walk back in time with an experienced local guide and you also experience the city life of today. Two mighty windmills, imposing churches, rich houses, one of the oldest carillons and many wonderful anecdotes about the life of the Tholenaar then and now.
Local products up close
Come into contact with the authentic Tholen by visiting the producers of regional products. Hear, see and taste how the traditions of the past live on today. Join a guide on a culinary adventure and discover what edible treasures the banks of the Oosterschelde have to offer.
Walking and cycling
A perfect way to explore Tholen is on foot or by bike. Away from all the hustle and bustle and enjoy the view over the water or the green polders. There is both a complete walking and cycling network, both based on junctions (knooppunten). In this way everyone can easily compose their own route.
- A short walk is also signposted at every center on Tholen. Every walk has a theme so that you can learn more about the village during your walk. The theme and points of interest along the route are listed on information panels at the starting point. The pull ferry at landscape camping Kruytenburg is also nice. The camping also has a herbal garden that can be visited.
- There are several example bicycle routes available with which you can easily cycle a nice round on the basis of the junctions.
- You can rent (electric bicycles) at various places. Or try an e-scooter or e-Harley.
- Information boards have been placed at unique spots in Tholen to draw your attention to the special environment and stories. Take this opportunity to make the past come alive.
Discovery tour by solex or e-scooter
For the older generation it is a piece of youth sentiment and for young people it is just a very nice experience. Enjoy a nice tour on an old-fashioned Solex, just the two of you or with a whole group. This is also possible in a very modern version with an e-scooter. This way you can make a pleasant day out while touring.
Klap bank (or chatting sofa)
Anna Jacobapolder has a modern version of a so-called Klap bank. A wonderful place to rest during your walking or cycling trip, while listening to the stories of this area. You can learn more about the cultural history of Anna Jacobapolder and Tholen by means of sound clips and information panels.
Ferries
The ferries allow you to cross the water on foot or by bike. This way you make your route very special. You can go from Gorishoek to Yerseke, from Sint-Annaland to Zierikzee and from Anna Jacobapolder to Zijpe.
Around Tholen
There is even more to experience in the immediate vicinity.
- Watersnoodmuseum Ouwerkerk here you can learn everything about the events on February 1, 1953
- Middelburg with its rich past as a VOC city and impressive monuments
- Liberation Museum Zeeland: Zeeland occupied and liberated in the Second World War with many personal stories and in particular attention to the Battle of the Scheldt
- Zierikzee, a picturesque monumental city with a museum harbour
- Bergen op Zoom, a historic fortified town with a medieval city palace, where you can also find the impressive Canadian and British war cemeteries from the Second World War
- Yerseke the cradle of oyster culture
- Antwerp with its historic city centre, Burgundian culture and famous nightlife
Discover Tholen – history and background
Location
The Municipality of Tholen consists of 2 former islands: Tholen (100km2) and Sint Philipsland (23km2) and is located in the province of Zeeland in the southwest of the Netherlands. By road (A4) the distance to both Rotterdam and Antwerp is approximately 60 kilometers.
The eastern border with North Brabant is formed by the Scheldt-Rhine Canal, which connects the port areas of Antwerp and Rotterdam. With the passage of more than 60,000 ships, it is one of the busiest shipping connections in the Netherlands. For ships it is 1.5 hours sailing to Antwerp and 4.5 hours to Rotterdam. The Oosterschelde National Park is located on the south side of Tholen.
From ever till now
The municipality of Tholen, which was formed in 1971 and which merged with Sint Philipsland in 1995, has 9 residential centers that are spread out in a vast agricultural area of dyked polders. All 9 settlements have their own character and their own historical past. The municipality of Tholen has almost 26,000 inhabitants and is still growing. The fortified town of Tholen is the largest residential center with almost 9,000 inhabitants. Like all of Zeeland, the region has a relatively large Protestant population, so Sunday rest is respected in many locations. The Catholic part is mainly concentrated in Oud-Vossemeer and the town of Tholen.
The oldest traces of habitation found in this area date from around the beginning of our era.
The area has been subject to many floods and has acquired its present form with the construction of dikes and reclamation.
The current nature reserve, the Pluimpot, was once a large channel that divided Tholen into an eastern and a western half. During the last flood – the flood disaster of 1953 – more than half of Tholen was flooded by the seawater. 153 people were killed in the hard-hit Stavenisse. After the disaster, the Pluimpot was completely reclaimed.
Natural environment
The landscape of Tholen is largely decorated by the agricultural use. The colour and structure changes with the seasons. This is also the source of many delicious regional products. Some areas have been designated as nature reserves: the Pluimpot, the puddles under Stavenisse, the Stinkgat and the Rammegors. These areas have great ornithological and botanical value. Outside the breeding season, regular excursions to these areas are organized. Tholen borders the Oosterschelde: the largest national park in the Netherlands. This water is therefore the must-see in Zeeland. During a boat trip there is a chance to spot seals and porpoises, not to mention the many bird species.
Economy
Tholen is an agricultural area par excellence. The main crops are: wheat, sugar beet, potatoes and onions, while flower seed cultivation also plays an important role. In the Netherlands, Tholen is mainly known for its potatoes.
After the harsh winter of 1962, a flourishing industry, the oyster culture, came to an end. Most of the oysters froze to death. The mussel culture also disappeared due to the construction of the Scheldt-Rhine Canal. The fishing fleet from Tholen now fishes in the North Sea and has other ports as their home port.
In addition to the agricultural sector, the tourist-recreational sector is playing an increasingly important role. There are various campsites and holiday parks and Sint-Annaland, Stavenisse and Tholen-stad have a marina. Especially cycling and walking tourists find their way to Tholen.
Heritage
In Tholen you will still find a mill and certainly a church in almost every village. In addition, there are many other beautifully preserved buildings such as former town halls, residences and water towers. Not to forget the monumental farms. A large part of the star-shaped fortress of Tholen-town is still intact.
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Contact details
Stichting Tholen Beter Bekend (STBB, Tholen Better Known Foundation)
Peter Henkes
traveltrade@eilandtholen.nl
+31-(0)615077024