Located on the north-west coast of Schouwen-Duiveland, Renesse is a picturesque village in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It was established in the 13th century around St. James’s Church, with the locals known as “billy goats” due to the abundance of resident goats.
Spend your days relaxing on the sands of Brouwersdam and Scholderlaan, with both beaches offering plenty of water sports. In addition to surfing, fishing and kiting, the surrounding dunes are traversed by hiking and biking trails that offer magnificent views across the coastline.
In the heart of Renesse is the Gothic-style St. James’s Church, which is believed to have been built on the site of an earlier Romanesque church. East of the village is Slot Moermon, a 13th-century castle surrounded by a 45-hectare nature reserve. Marvel at the beautifully restored exterior of the keep before stretching your legs along one of the scenic trails.
Getting there
Renesse is around an hour’s drive from Rotterdam and Rotterdam The Hague Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses connect Renesse to towns and villages across Zeeland while the centre of Renesse is compact enough to explore on foot.