A DFDS ferry sailing in the calm waters of Vlissingen, with sandy beach in the foreground and clear blue skies. Two weathered pillars stand on the sandy beach in Vlissingen, with sunlight creating dramatic shadows and a picturesque backdrop.
Netherlands

Vlissingen: The Boulevard of Moving Steel

Rusty pillars on the beach.
 Vlissingen, Netherlands, July 2022

The Boulevard van Vlissingen is the longest beach promenade in the Netherlands. A wide walkway with sweeping sea views, lined with cafés and restaurants where you can sit down and enjoy some kibbeling or poffertjes. But the real spectacle doesn’t take place on land—it happens on the water.

Nowhere else in the world do massive ships pass so close to the shore. Colossal container vessels, freighters, and cruise ships glide past Vlissingen in an endless parade, heading toward the port of Antwerp. They appear so near that it almost feels like you could reach out and touch them. It’s a surreal contrast: people strolling with ice cream in hand, children playing by the water—and just beyond them, only a few meters away, towering giants of steel whose bow waves gently lap against the shore.

Vlissingen itself is a city shaped by the sea. Once an important base for the Dutch East India Company, later a hub of shipbuilding, today it’s a blend of harbor town, seaside resort, and transit point. Lively, but never glamorous. If you’re looking for perfection, this isn’t the place. But if you appreciate a city with character, you’re in exactly the right spot.

Map of Vlissingen
Pilot boat moored in the port of Vlissingen, with colorful buildings and clear blue sky in the background.
In the old harbor of Vlissingen, a pilot boat waits for its next mission.
A pilot boat navigates the harbor in Vlissingen, with colorful buildings and a tower in the background under a clear blue sky.
A sandy beach in Vlissingen with the Gevangentoren tower on the left and a large ship sailing in the water.
Tides and trade meet in Vlissingen. The rippled sand of the beach contrasts with the steady flow of cargo ships passing the historic Gevangentoren.
Two weathered pillars stand on the sandy beach in Vlissingen, with sunlight creating dramatic shadows and a picturesque backdrop.
Two weathered metal pillars rise from the sand in Vlissingen, their purpose unknown. Despite searching, I found no record of their history.
A beach in Vlissingen with rippled sand and modern buildings lining the shore under clear blue skies.
A blue building in Vlissingen featuring a reflection of a red ship in the large window, with white benches in the foreground.
A window to the sea in Vlissingen. The reflection of a passing ship turns this house’s window into a perfect maritime painting—changing with every tide.
A red cargo ship anchored off the sandy beach of Vlissingen under a clear blue sky.
A DFDS ferry sailing in the calm waters of Vlissingen, with sandy beach in the foreground and clear blue skies.
A front-row view of maritime traffic in Vlissingen. Ships like this DFDS freight ferry pass just off the coast, navigating the busy waters of the Westerschelde.
A beach view in Vlissingen with sandy shore, green seaweed, and modern buildings along the waterfront under a clear sky.
Beachfront houses in Vlissingen with colorful facades and sandy shore, capturing coastal charm and scenic views.
Beachfront living in Vlissingen: A row of colorful houses stands just steps from the sand, offering front-row seats to the changing tides of the Westerschelde.
A sandy beach in Vlissingen with modern high-rise buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.
A view of the Gevangentoren in Vlissingen, featuring historic brick architecture and a walkway along the water.
The Gevangentoren in Vlissingen has stood watch over the Westerschelde for centuries. Originally built as a defensive tower in the 15th century, it later served as a prison. Today, it houses a restaurant with a panoramic view of passing ships and open water.
A sandy beach in Vlissingen with rippled patterns, a ship in the distance, and modern buildings lining the shore.
A waterfront terrace in Vlissingen with empty tables under a canopy and a view of the blue sea.
A beachfront terrace in Vlissingen with surrounding buildings and green coastal vegetation.
A coastal view in Vlissingen featuring ships on the water and wind turbines in the background under a cloudy sky.