Zierikzee travel tips

Zierikzee is a super quaint little town in Netherland’s Dutch province of Zeeland (literally “sea land”). No train station, no big fanfare — just a hidden coastal hideaway, tucked away like a secret.

We arrived by bicycle. Our Belgium–Netherlands cycle route brought across the huge expanse of the six-kilometer Zeelandbrug bridge, from the National Park Oosterschelde, and into the medieval city gates of Zierikzee via a wooden drawbridge. What a majestic entrance!

Boutique Hotel Zeeuws-Meisje
Located right on the waterfront in Zierikzee is Hotel Zeeuws Meisje, a charming hotel just steps from the schooner docks on the Haven canal by the authentic Windmill. The hostess greeted us kindly, in English, and let us leave our bags, then she kindly escorted us to a private garage by the windmill to stow our bikes.

We were excited to stroll the city of Zierikzee, we walked down medieval streets, cobblestone alleyways, admiring the tilted old homes, see our review of all there is to do and see and eat in delightful Zierikzee!

Checking in to Hotel Zeeuws-Meisje, we had reserved the top floor, Suite #10 which was a 10! A spacious lofty room on the top floor complete with attic rafters also had a panoramic rooftop deck. Each window had a different view, looking out at the Windmill, the harbor, the city rooftops and old Church tower, and Stadhuis. A kitchen with coffee maker and a mini-fridge, wine glasses, were welcomed amenities. Fun Asian details completed the space with a pretty sitting area. Our top-floor suite King bed had two fluffy cotton duvets – his and hers – a European traditional bedding I love.

Every room, of 12 guest rooms, at Hotel Zeeuws Meisje is beautifully decorated, with a colorful antique & oriental vibe. Even the lobby and hallways are artful. All the rooms require stairs, even the staircases are elegant with big, framed mirrors. Guest rooms are comfortable and spacious, including a modern renovated bath with nice amenities.

“Zeeuws Meisje” – the hotel name- means sea girl, and I felt at one with both the sea and our pretty chambers at once. We could lounge in our sitting area among pretty Asian antiques, or out on our deck overlooking the city. The WIFI was speedy for us, so we could post on Instagram our beautiful setting for jealous friends at home. Plus, our location could not be better in this rather undiscovered town, not on tour groups’ itineraries – its delightfully local.

Dinner that evening was conveniently right downstairs in our hotel at Tafalen bij Zeeuws Meisje, translated “Dining at the Sea Girl.” It’s a chic inviting space, with warm tones and glimpses of the schooner boats docked in the harbor out the windows. Our restaurant host Byron welcomed us and guided us to the perfect wines by the glass from his extensive collection. He also suggested his best dishes of the evening. We shared a wonderful garlic shrimp starter, which was heavenly sweet yet salty shrimp bathed in a garlic wine butter – with fresh bread for dipping. My entrée was local Mussels in wine, served with homemade frites, while Greg had fresh Red Snapper with a langostino atop.

After dinner, we walked along the canal and enjoyed twilight over the Windmill. We happily returned – up 4 flights, to our rooftop deck to enjoy the city lights of the unfinished Tower and Zierikzee’s Stadhius. We slept beautifully under our dreamy duvets in our spacious attic room.

Breakfast the next morning at Hotel Zeeuws Meisje was served in the downstairs restaurant Tafalen, where we’d dined elegantly the prior evening. A bountiful buffet awaited us for breakfast, with a pretty waterfront view. Fresh bread, croissants, meats and Dutch cheese, hard-boiled eggs, plus fruit, yogurts and granola, and a coffee bar made a lavish spread. Greg made his cappuccino into a Dutch treat with chocolate sprinkles- which are an essential at any Dutch breakfast table.

We loved our time in Zierikzee, what a special Dutch village, away from the big tour groups and hustle and bustle of bigger Netherlands and Belgian cities. It was hard to leave the charm and hospitality of Boutique Hotel Zeeuws Meisje, but we have our memories and our beautiful photographs of our rooftop Suite 10, forever a ten in our minds.

Departing Zierikzee on our bikes, we were off to explore more of the Netherlands, on our way to Willemstad, Breda, Bergen op Zoom, and Venlo, to Roermond and Maastricht, before biking back to Belgium and Brussels where we began. We’d already biked through Leuven, Mechelen, Antwerp, Gent, Bruges, and Middelburg, on a wonderful Belgium Netherlands bike tour.