Around Trade en Water Around Trade en Water

Wemeldinge (starting point)
Historic walking route
Beautiful route in clear weather
View over water and dikes

“Along old quays, locks, and harbours, the past comes alive on its own.”

For those who like to immerse themselves in history, the Parlevinkersroute is a perfect walk. During this approximately eleven-kilometre hike, it feels as though you're taking a step back in time. Along old quays, locks and harbours, the past comes alive all by itself. Ships lie waiting at the lock, ropes squeak against the bollards and somewhere someone calls out from deck. Here, people traded, talked and lived.

In the time when stevedores stood along the quay, they supplied the large ships with everything they needed for their journey. Fresh bread from the bakery, milk cans, vegetables from the land, washing soap and oil for the lamps. During the walk, it is easy to conjure up this image: carts on the quay, voices overlapping, and trade changing hands.

The route starts at the promenade of Wemeldinge and takes you past the oldest lock, with views over the canal. You walk along the dike, pass old mills and return via the Bonzijbrug. Along the way, water and open vistas alternate. At the lock plateau there is a VR headset that shows images from the past. As the water flows past the locks, you can see how things used to be here. The past and the present are literally side-by-side here. Do you want to discover all of Wemeldinge? Then follow the walking route ‘Stem van zee en streek’ (Voice of the Sea and Region).

Each season gives the Parlevinkersroute a different atmosphere. In spring and summer, the light is bright and there is a lot of activity on the water. In autumn, wind and clouds provide a rougher backdrop, which fits well with the history of hard work and sailing.

If you walk along the canal today, you can almost hear the past. With the Parlevinkersroute, you walk past places where trade, work, and meetings took place. Pause for a moment, watch a passing ship, and imagine how people used to shout, laugh, and negotiate here. This is how history stays alive.