At the beginning of September, we met for Collie Week in the Netherlands. Because it took place right after the show, unfortunately not many people had time to come along, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable.

A short stop on the way near Wemeldinge, where the South Beveland Canal (Zuid Beveland Kanaal) flows into the Oosterschelde. From the 't'Schip observation tower, whose platform is modeled after the bridge of a barge, there was a fantastic view. Then we continued along the town toward the northern part of Zeeland.

The next day we went for a lovely walk together along the Veerse Meer, where the dogs could run around to their heart's content.

Afterwards, we went to the historic port town Veere:

Later, we drove to the opposite side, where we enjoyed a beautiful view of Veere and had plenty of fun for our four-legged friends. In the evening, we met up at the restaurant for dinner.

Today we went to the North Sea beach, not without first admiring the seals on the mussel beds.

Later we continued on to Zierikzee, one of the oldest and most historically significant towns in the Netherlands.

We then drove back over the famous Zeeland Bridge. At over 5 km long, it's the longest bridge in the Netherlands. In the evening, we met again at the restaurant and treated ourselves to a delicious meal.

Today we took a trip to Westkapelle, the westernmost tip of Zeeland and thus at the mouth of the Westerschelde, the beginning of the long approach to the port of Antwerp. The invasion monument and memorial, along with else here, commemorate the Allied invasion from the sea on November 1, 1944. The brackish inland lake in the hinterland is a witness to the flooding of the town a month before the invasion, after the dam was destroyed by Allied bombers. Today, the town is a popular tourist destination. We stopped her for a drink and enjoyed a meal under a roof of vines. 

Later, we continued past one of the two famous lighthouses for a lovely walk along the dam with its impressive waves.

At an idyllic bay on the Veerse Meer, our four-legged friends were able to enjoy the water again. In the evening, we had delicious food from the grill.

Today we went to the North Sea beach and later walked along the adjacent dike to the tower. Afterwards, all the fish lovers enjoyed delicious treats such as shrimp sandwiches and kibbeling at one of the best fish shops.

Later that day, we took a lovely walk into the village, past friendly sheep that our youngest one affectionately petted on the nose, and past meadows that invited us to run around, all the way to the ice cream parlor and back along the harbor. In the evening, we rounded off the day relaxing with some delicious grilled food.

During a walk along a beautiful bay on the Veerse Meer today, our water lovers had a great time, even though the water wasn't as warm as we had hoped. In the evening, we enjoyed another lovely get-together at the restaurant.

On this final day, we went past the seals again and headed to the North Sea beach, followed by a stop at a restaurant. We rounded off the Collie Week with a walk along one of the beautiful bays on the Veerse Meer in the late afternoon. It was wonderful week!

(Photos: Gregor F. & Beate R.)