According to theinternetfaqs, Veere is a small town located on the former island of Walcheren. Nowadays Veere plays a modest role within the province of Zeeland. That used to be different. Veere has existed since the Middle Ages. The location on the water ensured that the place, which was once a hamlet, could grow into a lively trading center. Veere was given a boost in the form of a marriage between the local nobility and the Scottish royal family. This created a Scottish colony in Veere and led to a lucrative stacking contract. The prosperity that arose in Veere can still be seen in the historic center. The Scottish Houses in particular show that Veere used to be a prosperous city.
Thanks to the various sights and the authentic atmosphere, Veere is a popular place for a day out. Because Veere is considerably smaller than cities such as Middelburg and Zierikzee, most tourists stick to a visit of a few hours. During summer days, you can easily extend a visit by relaxing on the terrace or by taking a boat trip on the Veerse Meer.
Top 10 sights of Veere
#1. City Hall
The Town Hall of Veere is the most beautiful building in Veere. It was built in the fifteenth century. This makes it one of the medieval monumental buildings of Veere. The late Gothic appearance is striking. Thanks to three restorations – the last of which took place in the second decade of this century – the town hall is in excellent condition. Anyone who wants to can take a look inside. You have to pay for this, unless you limit your visit to the desk of the Veere tourist office on the ground floor. Another option to see the inside of the town hall is to get married or attend a wedding there. The romantic wedding room is located on the first floor.
#2. Museum Veere
The inner part of the town hall is part of the Museum Veere. It is divided over two buildings: the Gothic town hall and two connected Scottish houses on the Kaai. The buildings of the museum are reminders of the centuries of trade relations between Veere and Scotland. An audio guide, which is included in the admission price, will teach you about the history of Veere and the role the Scots played in it. You can enter De Vierschaar in the town hall. This is the space where justice was administered by the city council until the early nineteenth century.
In the part of the museum that is located in the Scottish houses, a floor has been set up for temporary exhibitions. For example, we have seen a number of beautiful and completely different interpretations of Veere himself.
#3. Big church
The Grote Kerk deserves its name. The enormous church is one of the defining features of Veere’s cityscape. The official name of the Grote Kerk is Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk. The late Gothic cruciform basilica is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Veere. Construction started in the year 1450. When construction stopped 91 years later, they were not quite finished yet. The overgrown tower should actually have become higher. They stopped after the first section. The blunt top of the church tower is the result of the burning down of the spire at the end of the seventeenth century.
The Grote Kerk started as a Roman Catholic church. In 1572 it became a Protestant church. During the French period, the church was transformed into a hospital. After the departure of the French, the church fell into disrepair. The building has had several roles. Today the Kleine Kerk in the choir is used for Protestant services. The rest of the Grote Kerk has been given a cultural role.
#4. Tanks
Close to the Grote Kerk is the Cistern or the Stadsput. This monumental building is almost five centuries old. The Cistern was built in 1551. The client for this was Maximilian II of Burgundy. With this he met the Scottish merchants who needed a good water supply to wash their wool. The water came from the roof of the church. The rainwater ended up in an underground receptacle with a maximum capacity of two thousand hectoliters. The Cistern was used well into the twentieth century. When Veere was connected to the water supply network in 1938, the Cistern lost its important role in Veere’s daily life.
#5. Marina
The marina of Veere is located directly on or in the historic center. The quay, which is located on the southern side of the harbor, is an important part of the historic heart of Veere. Here you will find the former trading houses, warehouses and homes of wealthy families that used to be an important part of the local economy in Veere. Where the trading ships used to be, where the space on the water is now taken up by yachts and more modest private boats. The northern side of the marina belongs to the Veere Yacht Club. The quay where the monumental buildings are located is owned by the municipality. Both sides are connected by the white suspension bridge.
#6. Campveerse Tower
If you walk down the quay towards the Veerse Meer, you will end up at the Campveerse Toren. This brick defense tower was built in the fifteenth century. It was an important complex to defend the harbor of Veere. The cannons on the side of the Campveerse Tor are still reminders of that. The Gothic building has been restored twice. According to tradition, one of the oldest inns in the Netherlands is located in the Campveerse Toren: Auberge de Campveerse Toren. You can spend the night here with a great view of the Veerse Meer, enjoy delicious dishes in the restaurant or experience a wedding.
#7. Old ramparts
Since the moment any form of wealth arose in Veere, the town had to be protected against uninvited guests who came with the wrong intentions. In the beginning, Veere was protected with moats and a wall. At a later stage, ramparts, bastions and vests were used. Part of the former fortifications has fallen into disrepair, but a reasonable part has been preserved. The Veerse ramparts are nowadays a symbol of the past and part of the identity of Veere. You can take several walks on the ramparts. You can literally and figuratively look at Veere from a different angle.
#8. Boat trip on the Veerse Meer
Veere is located on the Veerse Meer. This artificial brackish water lake was created in the early 1960s by the construction of the Zandkreekdam and the Veerse Gatdam. This was done in the context of the Delta Works that must protect Zeeland against new floods. They had learned their lesson after the flood disaster that hit the southwest of the Netherlands so badly in 1953. The Veerse Meer is now a popular recreational area. People come here for water sports such as diving, sailing and fishing. Among other things, the trout is fished, which thrives here in this brackish water.
From Veere you can take a boat trip on the Veerse Meer during the summer season. The one-duration cruises depart from the jetty at the Campveerse Toren. That happens several times a day. The cruises only take place in the summer season (from May to October).
#9. Come on
You can see De Koe from the quay and the marina. The name would make you think of a female bovine. The Cow is not an animal, but a windmill. This mill has become a well-known icon of Veere due to its location (on the fortifications). The mill is somewhat higher and is not surrounded by other buildings. This makes it a striking appearance with its white color, especially when the sun shines on the mill. The round mill is capable of grinding. It was built in the year 1909. De Koe is now privately owned and used as a recreational home.
#10. Bastionstrand
Veere may no longer be by the sea, but there is a beach: the Bastion beach. It is an artificial beach that was built in 2012. The sandy beach is – as you can tell from the name – at the bastion. The Bastion beach is a freely accessible public beach. Here you can sunbathe on an almost four thousand square meters of fine sandy beach. The beach is shielded with brushwood screens. You can swim here in the Veerse Meer. 2 floating ball lines should ensure that you as a swimmer are not bothered by recreational boating. The water temperature of the Veerse Meer starts to become pleasant towards the end of May.
EXTRA TIPS
Parking in Veere
Veere is car-free. In almost the entire center of Veere you are only allowed to park as a permit holder. As a visitor you can only leave your car in one of the parking lots. Paid parking is available at the Oranjeplein, Bastion and Gedempte Haven car parks. During the summer season there is also the possibility of paid parking at the Kanaalweg Westzijde / Mauritsbolwerk car parks. Do you want to park for free in Veere? Which can. Free parking is possible at the parking lot on the Veerseweg opposite Zorgcentrum Sandenburg. You can also park your camper here. From this parking lot it is a ten minute walk to the historic center of Veere.
Shopping in Veere
Do you like nice shops and boutiques? Then Veere is really something for you. No neon signs of the big chains here, but mainly nice local shops where you can find clothes, nice gadgets, local products and delicacies. For example, you can go to Oma’s Snoepwinkel for old Dutch and Zeeland sweets. Enjoy old-fashioned ulevelelen, cinnamon sticks, syrup soldiers or candy canes. Saartje is another gem in Veere’s range of shops. From a beautiful historic building, useful kitchen items and beautiful wooden toys are sold here. Atelier De Schapekop is a wool shop. It reminds of the role that Veere used to play in the wool trade.
Due to the tourist character of Veere, most shops are open seven days a week. So also on Sunday.
Nice places to sleep
Veere has a number of nice places to sleep. For example, you can book an overnight stay in one of the oldest buildings in Veere: the Campveerse Toren. A number of the hotel rooms in Auberge de Campveerse Toren have a great view of the Veerse Meer. That’s a nice wake up call! If you book your room in Auberge de Campvaarse Toren via booking.com, you will see exactly which room you will receive.
Very popular is the centrally located Bed and Bread. This very pleasant bed & breakfast is located in a historic mansion from 1819. Guests are particularly enthusiastic about the fantastic interior, where modern design is attractively combined with the authentic elements of the mansion.
Finally, our third tip for Veere. That’s our personal favourite: B&B BINNENgewoon. The high ratings by the guests show that not only we are very happy about this small-scale accommodation in Veere. In the reviews we read a sentence that hits the nail on the head: EXTRAORDINARY is the superlative of EXTRAORDINARY. A perfect location, a superior breakfast and a very tasteful decoration ensure that you do not want to go home after an overnight stay in this five-room B&B.
