You can see breakwaters along the entire Dutch coast. Dead-end sea paths of dark boulders, which the waves splash tens of meters off the coast. At the head, the water spurts up in fury, so that it crashes against the shore with less force.
They have been using this technique for more than five hundred years. The Westkapelle seawall on Wacheleren was the first to be built at the time. To provide extra protection for this dike, the hydraulic engineers built twenty-two breakwaters in the sea with hundreds of piles on either side.
Emperor Charles V came over in 1540 especially to view these spectacular works.
What does time and the water do to the Zeeland Paalridders?
They are living poles.
From afar they all look alike, but whoever goes from pole to pole immediately sees that no pole is the same. The natural elements have given each pile a different face. They are popular models for nature photographers. The interplay of ebb and flow, the changing weather conditions and the marine life clinging to the wood make them interesting objects to look at.
Several benches have been set up on top of the dune. Take a seat and feel free to dream or muse about a Zeeland Paalridder with the sound of the surf in the background.
A location to enjoy.