A ferry is passing on calm waters, with a clear blue sky and sandy beach in the foreground. Two rusty pillars stand in the sand with the sun shining brightly above. The coastline is visible in the background.
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
A harbor with a small boat, shallow water, and surrounding buildings. The sky is blue with a few clouds.
In the old harbor of Vlissingen, a pilot boat waits for its next mission.
A pilot boat navigates through green water, with buildings and a lookout tower in the background.
A gentle sandy beach with ripples, a large ship in the background, and a historic tower building. Clouds in a blue sky.
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 rusty pillars stand in the sand with the sun shining brightly above. The coastline is visible in the background.
Two weathered metal pillars rise from the sand in Vlissingen, their purpose unknown. Despite searching, I found no record of their history.
Sandy beach with patterned tracks, backed by multi-story buildings along the coast. Clear sky, calm atmosphere.
A blue wall with a large window reflects a red ship. White benches and planters stand in front of the window.
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 ship sails on calm water, with a sandy beach in the foreground and a lightly clouded sky in the background.
A ferry is passing on calm waters, with a clear blue sky and sandy beach in the foreground.
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 with a wide sandy shoreline and a modern building on the left side. A person is walking along the path.
Colorful beach houses stand side by side on a sandy shore. The buildings feature large windows and balconies.
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.
Sandy beach with fine patterns in the foreground, high-rise buildings in the background, blue sky with a few clouds.
A round brick tower with a pointed roof stands by the water. A cobblestone walkway runs along the shore.
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.
Sandy beach with wave patterns, a ship in the water, and a cityscape featuring modern buildings in the background.
Tables and chairs on a terrace with a sunshade, overlooking the water and a clear sky in the background.
A modern café with a large sunshade sits on a waterfront promenade, surrounded by several multi-story buildings.
Jagged shoreline with green vegetation, background features wind turbines and several ships on the water.