Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Zierikzee

Zierikzee. Photo by FrDr. Wikimedia Commons.

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Zierikzee

Zierikzee is a small city in the southwest Netherlands, 50 km southwest of Rotterdam. It is situated in the municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland, Zeeland. The city hall of Schouwen-Duiveland is located in Zierikzee, its largest city. Zierikzee is connected to Oosterschelde through a canal.

Zierikzee is a small port town with a dynamic, storied history and a few legends. There are 568 national monuments in and around the city centre, which places Zierikzee in the top ten Dutch cities with the greatest number of monuments. It is the most historically preserved town in the province of Zeeland. Let us look at the top 10 Oustanding Facts about Zierikzee.

1. Legend has it that Zierik founded Zierikzee

Zierikzee. Photo by FrDr. Wikimedia Commons.

Legend has it that Zierikzee originated in 849. Ziringus or Zierik was an explorer driven from Pannonia, an ancient Roman province around present-day Hungary and Romania.

It’s said that Zierik founded Zierikzee. Zierik is believed to have been a local ruler who established his settlement next to a creek called the Ee. So, Zierik and Ee became Zierikzee. The legend doesn’t mention where the “z” came from. However, archaeological finds in Zierikzee go no further back than the 11th century.

2. The town obtained permanent city rights in 1248

The name Zierikzee (Old Dutch: Siricasha) appeared for the first time in a document from 1156. When the town obtained permanent city rights in 1248, it stimulated growth. At the end of the Middle Ages, Zierikzee was a strategically important place in Zeeland and the surrounding area.

It had more big ships anchored than any other town in Holland. It even got its own castle. Sailors from the city could be seen throughout Europe. They sailed to destinations such as Archangel, Saint Petersburg, Malaga and Genoa. These were steps in the right direction.

3. Zierikzee has survived many challenges

Over the centuries resilient Zierikzee also survived regional wars, Spanish and French occupations, numerous fires, a plague, a WWI bomb attack, WWII German occupation and a major flood in 1953.

In 1303 and 1304, the city was besieged several times by Flemish troops over a territorial dispute between the Count of Flanders and the Count of Holland going back to the 11th century.

4. Zierikzee has burnt down close to five times

Zierikzee had six major fires from the 15th century to the 19th century; some burned down half the town. In 1466 a fire caused by lightning destroyed the largest church. The church had numerous reincarnations since its original wooden structure in 950. During the 12th century, it looked like a Holy Roman basilica. It was a Catholic church after all. Following the 1466 fire, a much bigger church was planned.

5. The city has a museum

Zierikzee (Netherlands): Kapellestraat. Photo by Marc Ryckaert. Wikimedia Commons.

The Zierikzee city museum is a must-see during your visit. The museum is located in the old city hall, which is by far the prettiest building in the entire town. The 16th-century building alone is worth the visit, though the museum itself is also rather interesting with loads of archaeological finds, silverware and beautiful traditional costume.

6. Zierikzee has previously experienced a tornado

In June 2022, at least one person was killed and ten others injured after a rare tornado hit the town of Zierikzee in the Netherlands. The Weeronline meteorological service described the event as a “weak tornado,” one of only two or three which form in the Netherlands each year.

One of the worst tornados to hit the Netherlands happened back in June 1967 when seven people were killed and dozens injured. In 1992, another tornado hit a campsite in Ameland, killing one person and injuring five. Such were the unfortunate events. However, the city was salvaged. It remains a beautiful city.

7. Zierikzee has a harbor

The beauty that is Zierikzee. Photo by FrDr. Wikimedia Commons.

The harbour of Zierikzee is also the home stage, in August, of the three annual Havendagen with all-you-can-enjoy music, food and drink. Bigger than the Havendagen, we also celebrate the Zierikzeese Dagen in the summer. For six consecutive Tuesdays, downtown Zierikzee hosts a street fair, with distinct weekly themes. It is never a boring day with all these amazing events.

8. It has a defensive waterfront

The town Zierikzee harbours many firm memories of its defensive choices. In the 14th century two large town gates were built as part to the waterfront defence the waterfront: the Zuidhavenpoort and the Noordhavenpoort. Nearby in the Nieuwe Haven you’ll find authentic boats and ships at their moorings.

Opposite those town gates, take time to take in the sights of the historic buildings in the Oude Haven. Spanning its waters, a double drawbridge. This is simply a superb medieval view.

9. Enjoy the view of Sint-Lievensmonstertoren

The Sint-Lievensmonstertoren (English: Saint-Livinus Monster Tower), also known as the Dikke Toren (or Fat Tower) is a 62 metre tall, unfinished, free standing church tower in Zierikzee, Netherlands. The accompanying church was destroyed by a fire in 1832.

In 1454 work started on a church tower, designed by Andries I Keldermans in the Brabantine Gothic style. It was planned to be, according to different sources, either 130 metres or 204 metres tall (the latter would have made it the tallest church tower in the world by far).

The work was continued by his relatives Antoon I Keldermans and Rombout II Keldermans. Work on the tower halted in 1530, when the city went through a financial crisis. The tower is now 62 metres tall, on a base of 24.5 metres by 24.5 metres. Since 1881, it is a property of the state, and it has been designated a Rijksmonument.

10. Museumhaven Zeeland and its collection

Zierikzee, Niederlande. Photo by Gerd Eichmann . Wikimedia Commons.

 Museumhaven Zeeland is located in the old port of Zierikzee. The museum illustrates the maritime history of Zierikzee and has an indoor and an outdoor location. At the outdoor location at the old harbour, restored ships are on display, including a ‘botter’, a ‘hoogaars’, a clipper and a ‘boeier’. The indoor location is a shipyard where ships are restored. Both locations are open to the public.