Ellemeet

In the Schouwen village of Ellemeet, you’ll be surprised by charming artistic expressions. As you walk or cycle from the village square to the beach, you’ll be treated along the way to beautiful sonnets about the Zeeland landscape.

In the village itself, you’ll find cheerfully painted art cabinets and a little free library. Be sure to visit this village in spring during events such as Straô Rieën or Kunstschouw, when Ellemeet is at its very best.

The village

Although Ellemeet has no church and only a few old monuments, there is a travalje on the village square. While the horse patiently waits in the travalje, the farrier is busy filing the hooves, shoeing the horse and heating the horseshoes. You can experience the shoeing of horses yourself during Open Monument Day. Would you like to see other historic sites? Visit the old cemetery, which was in use until the 18th century. Another listed building is farm De Drie Wilgen, the only national monument in the village. Outside the village, you will find corn mill ’t Hert from 1748, although it is unfortunately currently out of use.

Poetry Walking Route

If you walk from Ellemeet to the beach, you will soon discover the transparent panels with poems on them. They stand in the middle of the landscape and create photogenic views through the scenery. Read all 15 sonnets written by Anne-Marie Maartens and Bas Jongenelen while seeing the landscape in the background through the plexiglass panels. The poems are all about the Zeeland landscape and each consists of 14 lines. The 15th Master Sonnet is made up of the final line of all the other poems and can be found on the village square. Sonnet number 8 stands in a beautiful location, right on the beach. As you read the poem about the sea, the waves wash through the letters in the background. The poetry route is 3 kilometres long, running from the village hall to the beach and back.

World Heritage: Straô Rieën
World Heritage: Straô Rieën

Neighing horses, the sound of pounding hooves, eager faces, and the blast of a horn: at last, Straô Rieën can begin. Ellemeet is one of the villages where Straô Rieën is celebrated. At the end of winter, beautifully decorated horses, accompanied by a marching band, ride in a long procession to the beach, where they eventually enter the sea.
Kunstschouw
Kunstschouw

Do you love art? Then late spring is the perfect time to visit Schouwen-Duiveland. In June, the western part of the island celebrates art for seven days during the Kunstschouw Schouwen-Duiveland. Discover a wide variety of art forms at different locations, ranging from traditional to experimental. The artworks are displayed outdoors or in specially designed exhibition spaces.