Schuddebeurs

Schuddebeurs may be modest in size, but it's rich in nature and history. The surrounding woodlands offer a lush mix of oaks, beeches, hawthorns and conifers. Ideal for a quiet walk, with birdsong and the scent of the forest all around.

Keep your eyes open for woodpeckers, owls, treecreepers, salamanders, frogs, polecats, weasels and even roe deer. In spring, snowdrops and wood anemones bloom, while in late summer, flowering ivy and betony attract countless butterflies and insects.

In the Dutch Golden Age, wealthy merchants from nearby Zierikzee built elegant country estates here. Around villas like Mon Plaisir and Weelzicht, landscaped gardens and forests were created. Though the area suffered damage during World War II, many of these stately homes were restored and are still privately inhabited today.

Thanks to the mature trees and natural cover, many hole-nesting birds thrive here, such as owls, woodpeckers and nuthatches. In spring, Mon Plaisir becomes a peaceful haven for some thirty pairs of nesting grey herons.

Between 2000 and 2005, the “Forest of the Future” was planted here. Locals could commemorate life events by planting a tree. Today, the forest is fully grown and a wonderful sight to behold.

Close to Schuddebeurs lies the Kakkersweel, a reed-fringed pond between Noordgouwe and Kerkwerve, formed by a historical dike breach. It's a haven for birds like the Montagu's harrier, reed warbler and reed bunting. Ducks are a constant presence, in all seasons.

Schuddebeurs is freely accessible to walkers, cyclists and horse riders. In the wide polder path behind Mon Plaisir, you can even fish with a permit. A place where nature and people live in perfect harmony – a true Schouwen-Duiveland gem.