Sirjansland

Sirjansland is a small village on Schouwen-Duiveland, located near Lake Grevelingen. It is also locally known as Sturjalland, or simply Sir. The surrounding area is home to several beautiful nature reserves where you can enjoy a pleasant walk.

The Origins of the Village

Sirjansland originated in 1305 as a new polder, after a large part of the Dreischor polder was lost during Saint Agatha’s Flood. The person who initiated the construction of the new polder was Jan van Beaumont, a younger brother of Count William III of Holland and Zeeland. This is where the village’s name comes from: ’s-Heer Jansland. Sirjansland is a small village with a church, which was rebuilt after the North Sea Flood, a cosy village café and several holiday accommodations.

Sustainable greenhouse horticultu

A remarkable initiative can be found on the outskirts of Sirjansland. Here, you'll find a large greenhouse horticulture complex, the result of a successful collaboration between several vegetable growers. Together, they have invested in a sustainable energy project. Using wood-fired biomass and a connected capture installation for gas recovery, sustainable heat and green CO₂ are produced. It is a unique project and was the first of its kind to be installed in the Netherlands.

Sirjansland Village Forest
Sirjansland Village Forest

This small forest is located on the site where a dike breach occurred during the North Sea Flood of 1953. A forest was later planted here. Today, you’ll find a bat cellar and a frog pond. Bats live at night and shelter in the cellar during the day. The forest is maintained by volunteers and Staatsbosbeheer. It’s a pleasant place to stretch your legs while listening to the frogs or looking for birds in the forest.
Dijkwater Nature Reserve
Dijkwater Nature Reserve

Before the North Sea Flood, Dijkwater was an important waterway used to transport agricultural products from the surrounding area. Following the construction of the Grevelingen Dam, the creek was closed off and was no longer suitable for navigation. The fertile land was converted into agricultural land, while nature was allowed to take its course in the less fertile areas. This eventually led to the creation of the nature reserve that exists today.