Holiday Day 2 – Oosterschelde National Park

This is a great area of the Netherlands, almost unknown by the British. We have not seen another British car and all the menus are in Dutch and German without an English translation. The tour guide for the boat trip was entirely in Dutch, so it was great to be with Hans and Mirjam for a translation. It would be superb for a long weekend from the South East of England being only 40 miles from Rotterdam. It is also great biking country.

This morning was again very bright with hardly a cloud in the sky. We had a very relaxed start not going to breakfast until 10:00. It was a good breakfast with lots of interesting breads and great coffee.

After a relaxed meal we headed for the Oosterschelde National Park, which was very close by. Simply this is the area of inland sea behind the North Sea barrage. The barrage was built after the disastrous floods of 1953. If there is a tidal surge then the barrage can be closed protecting the low-lying land. It is an area rich in wildlife.

We boarded a boat for an interesting tour with a guide who pointed out the basking seals and porpoises. There were also some buildings from the many villages that had been submerged from about 1500 onwards. The day was bright with enough breeze to propel the many yachts on the sea at impressive speeds. The visibility was great and you could easily see the long bridges that link the various islands of the delta. The nearest equivalent in England is I guess the Wash.

Later in the afternoon we visited the site of the barrage where there was an information point detailing the features of the delta. The national park is all the more impressive if you consider it is only 40 miles from Europe’s biggest port.

So often on a Sunday evening it is difficult to find good places to eat. However Hans had researched a great Turkish restaurant that was only about a mile from the hotel. The food was excellent and we feasted on a platter of grilled Turkish meats, with salad and rice.

Once again we have had a great time in the Netherlands, renewing our friendship with Hans and Mirjam. Our thanks to them for arranging a wonderful itinerary. Already we have made arrangements for a return visit to North Yorkshire in the autumn. Tomorrow is a transition day as we head down into Eastern France. The holiday has had a great start.