At the end of September, my grandfather and I decided to go down to Marseille. My grandfather has some memories of the city, since he did his military service and has family from Marseille. We'll be there for 3 days. We visited the city, some quirky places and then the southern part of the 8th arrondissement, which was much more natural and wild.
Freed to Catch Something
by a wandering wonderer
Walk in Natural Zwin Parc
On this Friday, May 9, 2025, I absolutely wanted to go and visit something, but I didn't want to go and visit a city. In the days preceding the hike, I looked at the map a bit, hesitating to do many kilometers. Gradually I found myself looking at hikes between the Belgian and Dutch borders. There's the Zwin natural park and as I've never been there, I think it's a good idea. I also do a search using ChatGPT, which provides me with a wealth of information (itinerary, weather, observation spots, etc.), including the Komoot app, which offers personalized hiking itineraries.
So I set off this morning at around 8:30 a.m. for the village of Retranchement in Zeeland, the southern region of Holland. It takes me about 1h10 to get there, so it's not too far and the road is pleasant. I arrive and there's hardly anyone in the parking lot, just two people who've just got on their bikes for a ride. I swap my city shoes for walking shoes, get my camera and DJI OSMO POCKET 3 ready. I bought it recently and have been wanting to see what it looks like for some time. We'll see if it's really worth it, maybe not on this kind of content, I don't know... (there won't be a real Instagram following the video shoot with this camera, I got my bearings, didn't film with the desired good quality and my movements were too abrupt... That'll be for another time) The parking lot is at the start of the hike so I cross the crosswalk and start walking on the bike/walking path... Here's what I saw...
The cycle path ends below the beach, which is high up (strange to say it like that, but don't forget we're in the Netherlands), so to see the beach you have to go up a little.
I walk down to the beach, which is almost empty and very quiet...
I'm nearing the dunes with their little houses with colorful doors...
My walking shoes are perforated to let in air, but they also let in grains of sand. They're full of it and I feel my toes compressing. My shoes are swelling with sand. I've got to stop. In fact, I was walking on sand that had silted up in my shoes. I then turn back and get back on the bike/walking path. The landscape is magnificent.
I'm approaching the seaside resort of Cadzand, and I haven't taken many photos of the town, I must say... I also like looking at the commercial ships. It reminds me of Quebec. For real, every time I think of it.
The loop of the hike turns right here, so I take the same route before descending to the small road below in the Dutch countryside...
I then head back up towards the beach, arriving at the starting point but continuing along the path. I'm not yet tired enough to return to the car.
Then I come across this flock of sheep. They are all quiet despite the wind, they are all shaggy...
With all due respect, they look like big balls of dust...
I then head back to the village of Retranchement. I wonder about the French name given to a Zeeland village. After some research, I discovered that it reminds us of the military origins of the village, which was founded at the beginning of the 17th century, during the Eighty Years' War between the United Provinces and Spanish troops. Several fortifications were built to protect the mouth of the Zwin. The streets of Vilalges are beautiful, and there's this mill that sits enthroned on a small hill.
It was a great day !!