The HZ is to be found in Vlissingen and a small part of the campus is in the neighbouring town of Middelburg. Both towns are situated in the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands. I will take you on a tour of the towns and the country where you will be staying when you attend the HZ.
Vlissingen
The best place to be in Vlissingen? On the beach right next to the big boulevard, with your toes in the sand. The wind in your hair and the endless water of the Westerschelde estuary in front of you. A place to dream away and watch sea vessels pass you by on their way to the port of Vlissingen or Antwerp. Vlissingen is quite compact. That means that, regardless of where you are in town, you can be at the beach in about ten minutes (by bike).
The town centre (right next to the coast) is also a great place to hang out. Vlissingen is a port town and you can find old docks and quays throughout town. The port brings many international guests to Vlissingen. So it is not just the HZ that has an international feel to it. You can feel it everywhere in town. There are many wonderful authentic eateries here, from Portuguese to Surinamese. But maybe you just want to go out for a drink with friends? Then you should check out one of the town’s many pubs or terraces. Oh, and we should also mention that if you want to have a fun night out, Vlissingen has a huge cinema and theatre complex.
Middelburg
To the north of Vlissingen, about half an hour by bike, you find the town of Middelburg. It boasts over 1200 monuments. It is a great town to just wander around and get lost in. When you walk through the historic centre with its mansions and old warehouses towering above you, you can’t help but feel impressed. There are a few obvious highlights that you won’t want to miss: the ancient abbey and the town hall on the market square. But it is just as much fun to just chill out on one of the terraces on one of the town’s picturesque historic squares.
Zeeland
The towns of Vlissingen and Middelburg are situated in the province of Zeeland. Zeeland literally means ‘sea’ and ‘land’ and that’s what it is: a delta region of peninsulas in between sea arms and the North Sea. Zeeland is well-known for its spectacular coastline and wide and clean beaches. It is by far the most popular tourist region in the Netherlands. It is a place where people come to enjoy themselves and hence there are many festivals (particularly in Vlissingen).
The Netherlands
The Netherlands has long been a country of traders and seafarers. That is one of the main reasons its people are open-minded, tolerant, friendly and straightforward. The Dutch just love to test their English language skills to help you along (so much so that if you want to learn Dutch, you will have to discourage them from speaking English).
Are tulip fields and windmills the first things that come to mind when you think of the Netherlands? Those clichés exist for a reason: you can actually see them here. There is a good public transport system that allows you to travel from Vlissingen to just about anywhere in the country (even to those tulip fields). You will have a great time discovering the small but impressive country.
There will be a lot to explore when you arrive at HZ. If you would like to know more about the surroundings of HZ; you can always ask me :).