The tour 'Oosterschelde from Wuustwezel' leaves you in the quiet Noorderkempen and 'tranquility' remains the motto in this easy tour of the island 'Tholen', which is part of Eastern Zeeland. Where most Zeeland rides visit the 'larger' and more famous islands of Beveland, Schouwen-Duiveland & Walcheren, this route remains in the quiet, more unknown Tholen. Which is not to say that it has to lose beauty….

The departure in Wuustwezel immediately takes you into the middle of the agricultural Kempen landscape and after 5 kilometers (rp3) you will already enter the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant for the first time. On this route you will cross the border between the Netherlands and Belgium four times. Not that it matters much, unless you like to smuggle a few things, which immediately makes you part of the rich history of this region, in which the farmers in particular understood the art of getting a few things illegally across the border in the more difficult times . The many smaller country roads you drive on here certainly played an important role in this whole story.

Shortly after departure you will arrive in Nispen (rp12, km 35), a small village where you can simply take a break on one of the two terraces at the church. Nothing is mandatory, everything is allowed, so if you feel like it, the Gouden Leeuw or café Tivoli are ready for you for a first pleasant break.
However, if you are already ready for a rather hearty bite or you want to experience the Dutch gastronomy up close, you can make a stop 8 km further (rp 13, 43 km) at the 'Pannekoekenbakker' where you can enjoy both sweet and savory pancakes. (or something else). The choice is yours!

Just after rp 19 (refueling option) you drive zigzag along the 'Krommeweg' (what's in a name ...), under the watchful eye of the characteristic church tower of Steenbergen. This zigzagging road is a remnant from the time of the old moats. After all, Steenbergen has developed over time from a settlement on a donk via a walled medieval trading town to a 17th-century fortified town from 1637. In 1827 the fortress was abolished, but before that time it had already fallen into disrepair. Many of the fortifications were demolished, but a number of moats are still present, together with old remains such as at Fort Henricus (rp 22).

You will pass the Schede-Rhine connection and you will also leave the province of Noord-Brabant on route point 26 to reach Zeeland and the island of Tholen.

The history of the Scheldt Rhine connection is a story in itself. Both Belgium and Germany were strongly in favor of such a connection, but it was only in 1963 that the treaty was signed and then it would take another 10 years before the canal was actually opened. The Oesterdam, over which this route later runs, ensured that the canal became tidal-free, but the works are not yet finished. There are plans to build special passage locks in the Volkerakdam, the Philipsdam, the northern part of the Grevelingendam and in the Oesterdam. In this way, the fresh water of the Rhine, the Maas and the Scheldt, via the Scheldt-Rhine Canal, can mix more naturally with the salt water of the North Sea, in fact the Eastern Scheldt. Moreover, this water system can be designed as a retention area for the Great Rivers, with which the effect of climate change can be counteracted. In addition, a solution will be reached for the chronically poor water quality of these waters.

You will be given a first look at the Oosterschelde National Park near Sint-Annaland where you get a view of the Krabbenkreek. The name of Sint-Annaland is also special. After all, in 1475, Charles the Bold gave his half-sister Anna of Burgundy permission to dik a salt marsh area near the island of Tholen. She founded a church and a village, both of which she dedicated to her patron saint, St. Anne.
However, that patroness did not pay close attention on May 23, 1692… The small village was then hit by a fire, which in a short time lost 56 houses, a stove, a brewery and 34 barns. The house where the fire started was then ransacked in blind anger by the inhabitants of the village ... .. so ... if you want to leave the village unharmed, you should behave pretty well ...

A little over half the tour, at rp 31 you arrive in Stavenisse where 't Packhuys' offers you not only pleasant dishes, but also a nice view of the harbor of the village. You can park just next to the terrace or a little further after the Packhuys. Make sure you do not drive into the water. There are no fences to hold you back ...
It is admittedly shortly after the break in 't Packhuys (2km) when it is best to put the engine aside at rp 32 and climb the steep stairs on the dike. After all, at the top you get a particularly wide and impressive view of the entire Eastern Scheldt. Take a moment to take in the special panoramic view, after which you can make your way to Oesterdam via wonderful polder roads.

At rp 37 you start at the entrance to the Oesterdam, the dike that connects the island of Tholen with South Beveland. Pay attention to this! Here you will pass a particularly busy beach that is located just next to the road. Watch out for the many passers-by, young and old ...
When you have passed the lock, you enter the real Oesterdam. The construction of the 10.5 km long dam started in 1979 and ensured, among other things, that the Scheldt-Rhine Canal became tidal-free. The dam is also the direct connection between the island of Tholen and South Beveland.

We leave the Oesterdam and then drive next to the Bathse Spuikanaal, which runs parallel to the Schede-Rhine connection to the Scheldt, if only to give this river some credit. After all, this entire river delta to which both the Eastern and Western Scheldt belong is the source of much of our economic prosperity.
At rp 39 you can see the end of the drainage channel and the Scheldedijk comes into view. At rp 40 you can climb the dike for a moment to take a look at not only the Scheldt itself, but also the drowned Land van Saefthinge on the other side, the port industry of Antwerp and the nuclear power plant of Doel on your left.

Further along the route you can rinse everything again on the terrace of 'Non Plus Ultra' at rp 43, after which you will drive back into Flanders via rp 47 to arrive 19 kilometers later in Wuustwezel, the Kempen village from which you left.

The route is easy to drive and requires no special technical knowledge or special administrative skills. It can therefore also be recommended to the novice rider. But even the more experienced rider will find what they are looking for here because of the exceptionally good and fun, open roads where a lot of special things can be seen. If one is also open to some local facts and the (economic) importance of the region, then a score of 4 is the least one can give, even if only for the natural tranquility that emanates from the island of Tholen and the beauty that both the island and the total route offers you.
Perhaps this island 'Tholen' is the 'loser' of the larger Zeeland, but this route has hopefully made up for it by introducing you to a special island in a special region.