Pearl Route Wealth - Discover the prosperous Zierikzee

Directions

Wealth
As you walk through the streets and alleys of this little town, you feel like you're in the Middle Ages — the time when this important port city was in full bloom. It became wealthy through the trade in salt and madder. Now, hundreds of years later, you can still see the many monumental buildings. Dive into the rich history of Zierikzee and discover the pearls of its wealth.

1. Nobel Gate
   Start this puzzle route at the entrance gate to Zierikzee. Two remain in the city, but this is the oldest. Built in the early 14th century when the Flemish tried to take over the city. The gate is very tall, so enemies could be spotted from far away and held off with bow and arrow. When cannons were later invented, tall gates were no longer built — instead, they became thicker. Why this gate is called the Nobel Gate is unclear. One story says it was founded by two noble ladies. Because one of them was hunched, one of the two spires was built with a slight bend. Is it true, or a tale of someone with a vivid imagination?
   Question 1: What is written on the street sign hanging on the Nobel Gate? Take the 4th letter of the answer.

2. De Hoop (The Hope)
   You pass a windmill called “De Hoop.” It is a grain mill from 1874 on Lange Nobelstraat. It’s a round stone mill with a span of 23.50 meters. In 1788, the first wooden mill was built here. It was replaced by a stone one in 1850. After a fire in 1874, the mill was restored. The platform it stands on is over 12 meters high. It is the younger of the city’s two grain mills. Grain is still milled here today.
   Question 2: What kind of mill is this? Take the 3rd letter of the answer.

3 & 4. De Haene and Town Hall Museum
This house, “De Haene,” is one of the oldest residential homes in the Netherlands, dating from the 14th century. You can hardly see them anymore, but above the middle window are two sculpted roosters. Look closely — they’re quite worn, which isn’t surprising. Across from “De Haene,” around 1550, the town hall was built with its beautifully ornate tower. Atop stands a statue, the Roman god of the sea, watching over Zierikzee. Inside, you’ll find the treasures of Zierikzee: the town’s scales, ship models, and the stunning wooden ceiling in the attic — made without nails.
Question 3: Who stands atop the town hall? What is his name? Take the 1st letter of his name.

1. Sint-Lievensmonstertoren
   Next to the tower stands the massive New Church. Look at the ground — do you see those lines? They show how large the previous church was. That was the St. Lievens Monster Church, the largest in all of Zeeland! And such a grand church deserved a special tower — 130 meters tall, even higher than the Dom in Utrecht! There was enough money to build it, but Zierikzee's wealth declined in the 16th century. The tower was never completed. Today, the “Fat Tower” stands at 62 meters.
   Question 4: A bit further you’ll find a medieval rinsing pit, called “volwelle.” What is another name for this pit? Take the 2nd letter of the answer.

2. Bulwark
   Sailing from Zierikzee toward the sea brings you into the Oosterschelde. But centuries ago, the Gouwe river silted up, cutting off access. So, the citizens decided to dig a 3-kilometer canal around 1600. The southern city wall was torn down and replaced with a quay. The docking site became the New Harbor. But without a wall, the city was exposed — the Spanish could easily attack. So the Bulwarks were built: the blue one on the west side, the orange one on the east.
   Question 5: At the Bulwark stands the last complete fog bell buoy in the Netherlands. What is the name of the company that made it? Take the last letter of the word.

3. Fish Market
   Fishing was very important for Zierikzee, especially herring and cod. In the mid-17th century, the fleet had nearly 100 ships. On the left under the canopy, fish were cleaned. In the center is the auction house, where fish auctions took place.
   Not only fish, but also salt and madder made Zierikzee wealthy. Salt peat lay in the Zeeland soil. In the Middle Ages it was dug up and sold. Later, it was imported because digging endangered the dikes. Did you know madder grows all over Schouwen-Duiveland? Its roots were used to make red textile dye. In Zierikzee, the madder was inspected.
   Question 6: Zierikzee got rich from fish, madder, and ……? Take the 3rd letter of the answer.

8 & 9. Museum Harbor / Old Harbor and North Harbor Gate
It’s the 17th century. You sail into Zierikzee through the impressive North and South Harbor gates. The colors of the city — red and black — greet you. Once admitted, you enter the old harbor. You might see hoeker ships (longline fishing boats) or "pinnaces," large, heavily armed ships making long voyages to America or Asia. Perhaps even the ship of Mulock, a Zierikzee native who brought the turkey to the Netherlands. These ships were built in local shipyards.
Question 7: Walk through the North Harbor Gate to the cannon. After whom is the city named? Take the 4th letter of the answer.

1. Prison
   Question 8: Did you pass an old prison near the Town Hall Museum? What is its name? Take the 1st letter of the answer.