Grevelingenmeer
The (brouwers) dam that fizzes
You’ll find all the clichés here on the Brouwersdam – sea, beach and wide-open nature, but with value added. This six and a half kilometre long beauty is the link between the islands of Goeree-Overflakkee and Schouwen-Duiveland. Wedged between the Grevelingen and the North Sea, it offers you a take-all-the-buffeting-you-want sort of buffet, as climate isotopes do. The wind will draw you and your surfing clobber to the waves, but there are drier choices if you’re into wheels and wings: buggy ones, boogie ones, beachies, and biggies (they’re awesome).
Water sports
Lying between the beaches of the North Sea and the Grevelingen, the Brouwersdam is a fine trio of surfing, sailing and diving. Like many a ménage à trois, it poses a dilemma. To our west, the North Sea side is a magnet for drawing kite surfers (beaches, right?). The wind surfers go to the Grevelingen skies and watery expanses, to get their fill of Western Europe’s largest and cleanest freshwater later. One dilemma is choosing the relaxation or the pulsing push of water sport. The iconic wind-in-your-hair thrill, or a precarious last stand on a supping board or taking a cruise on a boat trip, or going out in your sloop, or sailing towards the sunset. Choices! The winners: for picking up more sailing skills, go to the Grevelingen. For water sports, the dam. See more about water sports at the Brouwersdam.
Water jump
Not any old water jump, this giant off the Brouwersdam. A mega slope a mere eight metres high, it’ll take your breath away. Which is what you meant, right? And you’ll set new limits for yourself. Hard call? Allowed, dude, so take it easier on a tyre or a mat.
Beach sports
Not so much of a splash freak? Just exercise on dry land, or sand? You’ll soon find vendors with kit to rent, or locate one of three beach sport pitches with their nets. Choose your game: volleyball, football-tennis or invent your own!
Beach pavilions
Is the Brouwersdam the spiritual home of the beach pavilion? Check ‘em out, preferably with that iconic salt in your hair, dry sand between your toes and that holistic MeBeach glow. To work: flick that sand off the table, charm the staff to bring your drink, pronto, and ponder over the menu. Hurrying is not an option, not with all those loungers, sit bags and bunk-size tables. Unless you’re the waiter.
Concert at Sea
Coo-eee, the sound of the sunset: that’s the backdrop for this massive event, Concert at Sea, now deep in its second decade. From its humble beginnings as a party for Zeeland’s very own perennially millennial band, Bløf, the nation’s pride rides on it. You’ll feel why: the salty wind, the growling bass, the incisive words, the wicked riffs. No bluffing.
Fun spots
No chance of boredom on the Brouwersdam. All-day fun: the nature area at De Punt has great walks and bike trails, and the lookout post up in the woods. Or let the sun, sea and sand stream over you on the shore.
