Frequently asked questions about the beach in Vlissingen

Up-to-date information on the bathing water quality at Vlissingen is available on zwemwater.nl.

• Status: good (safe to swim), warning (swimming allowed, possible health risk), negative swimming advice and swimming ban.
• Bathing season: from 1 May to 1 October the province measures the quality at the official bathing sites.
• Out of season: there are no measurements; you decide for yourself whether swimming is safe.

You may fly a drone as an individual in the vicinity of Vlissingen if you adhere to the rules. Just as on the road, safety in the air is important—for both you and others. These rules are designed to keep drone flying safe.

1. Check your drone and your liability insurance.
2. Do not fly over people, (rail)roads, buildings, and other structures. Advice: maintain at least 50 metres distance.
3. You must give way to all other aircraft and maintain distance from them.
4. You must fly at a safe distance from people and buildings.
5. You must always be able to see your drone.
6. You are not allowed to fly in the dark.
7. Do not fly higher than 120 metres.
8. Stay away from airports and other no-fly zones (at least 3 kilometres).
9. Filming or photography: respect everyone's privacy.
10. Flying over Natura 2000 areas (protected nature reserves) is not permitted.

The current drone regulations (for the vicinity of Vlissingen) can be found on the website of the Dutch government:
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/drones.

However, drone regulations frequently change and are generally becoming stricter. We therefore advise you to regularly check if the current drone regulations have changed.

Commercial use of a drone?

You may only fly a drone commercially if you have a licence. You can apply for this licence at the Inspection for Living Environment and Transport (Il&T).

Commercial use is considered if you intend to make money with the drone, such as video production companies making aerial recordings. It may also be that you need a drone for your business operations. This applies, for example, to inspection companies wanting to view hard-to-reach places. In these cases, commercial use is also considered.

All local surf information (including surfing schools) can you find on our special page: https://vlissingen.com/en/cat/surfing/

Yes, in Vlissingen you can borrow a beach wheelchair during the beach season.

• Beach post Boulevard Evertsen: Boulevard Evertsen, Vlissingen, tel. +31 118 412 625.
• Season: usually from June to September.
• Booking: call ahead, the number of chairs is limited; use is often free.
• Use: for beach and sea only; you need someone to push.

Display Boulevard Evertsen
on the map

Most shops, beach clubs, bars, terraces and restaurants remain open during the weekends in the low season. Many are also open throughout the week.

Each year the low season in Vlissingen begins after the autumn holidays till the beginning of the spring holidays. Several shops, beach clubs and restaurants use this period to rebuild, renew or for vacation. As a result, during this low season period, not all stores are opened every day.

Furthermore there is no general period when all the restaurants, bars and shops are closed. All entrepreneurs determine the temporary closure individually. Therefore is there are, also in the low season, enough shops and restaurants opened for you to enjoy.

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Vlissingen at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

As far as we know, yes: amateurs may search with a metal detector on the beach in Vlissingen.

• Rules: heritage law, weapons law and the local bylaws (APV) also apply on the beach; valuable finds must be reported to the municipality.
• Municipality: Vlissingen belongs to the municipality of Vlissingen, which can ban detecting through its bylaws; if in doubt, check the current rules.
• Dunes: searching in the dunes is prohibited, to protect nature and the sea defences.
• Tidy up: always fill in any holes you dig.

• Dogs are prohibited on the beaches of Vlissingen during the period 1 May to 16 September.
• Outside of the above mentioned period are dogs allowed (both loose and leased) on the beaches of Vlissingen.

Further, we also recommend reading the information board, with the local beach rules, which is often placed near every beach (entrance).

Nearest beach for dogs at Vlissingen

Leashed dogs are allowed all year from beach 90. Duinstrand in the direction Dishoek.

Display Zwanenburgseweg
on the map

As far as we know, there are no hooded beach chairs for rent on the beaches in Vlissingen.

• Alternative: many beach pavilions rent out sunbeds and windbreaks.

Yes, several beaches in Vlissingen have free outdoor showers in season.

• Including: Boulevard Bankert, Nollestrand.
• Season: the beach showers are in place from early May to late September.

• Sea fishing from the beach at [place name] in the North Sea and Western Scheldt is allowed all year round and throughout the day. Therefore, please be mindful of other beach and sea users when casting your line.
• No licence is required to fish in the sea from the beach. However, fishing in the Veerse Meer (and other inland waters) does require a fishing licence and a fishing permit.
• Even though sea fishing from the beach is permitted all year, one rule remains; be considerate of each other!

Additionally, we advise always consulting the local beach information boards for the latest and any (temporary) changes to the restrictions. These boards can be found at most access paths to the beach.

No, the dunes in Vlissingen are off limits outside the paths.

• Why: the dunes protect the land from the sea and are almost everywhere a protected nature reserve; walking on them damages the vegetation.
• Allowed: Walking and cycling on the marked dune paths.
• Nature: picking plants and disturbing animals is prohibited by law.

Yes, some of the beach pavilions in Vlissingen are open in winter as well, mainly at weekends.

• All year: year-round pavilions are often open in winter; seasonal pavilions are taken down.
• Tip: check the opening hours with the pavilion beforehand.

Yes, the beach in Vlissingen is free to access.

• Costs: for example parking and renting a sunbed, windbreak or beach cabin.

For reasons of public safety, the use of barbecues – as well as any open fire, such as campfires, fire pits or grills – is strictly prohibited on the beach of Vlissingen at all times.

Barbecues held indoors or on the terrace of a beach pavilion are exempt from this rule and allowed, provided they are arranged in consultation with the respective pavilion.

All information about horse riding on the beach or in the environment (including local riding schools) can be found on the riding page: https://vlissingen.com/en/horseback-riding.php

From 15 April to 1 October kite flying is prohibited on and near the beach in Vlissingen.

• Outside that period: it is allowed.

Yes, at most beach pavilions in Vlissingen you can rent sunbeds, beach chairs, parasols and windbreaks by the day.

• Booking: usually you rent on the spot; on busy summer days it helps to arrive early or book ahead.

Beach cabins on the beaches of Dishoek and Westduin can be rented from Elly Oostdijk Recreatie, among others.

• Where: by the Zilvermeeuw and Kaapduin dune crossings.
• Contact: tel. +31 118 553 175.
• Tip: many accommodations also offer beach cabins to their guests.

The Blue Flag is an international environmental award, granted annually to beaches and marinas that participate in the campaign and have proven to be clean and safe.

The goal of the Blue Flag programme is to continuously involve governments, entrepreneurs, and recreational users in the care for clean and safe water, beautiful nature, and a healthy environment. Holding a Blue Flag is a recognition of the efforts made by the beach municipality or marina operator in this area. For tourists, the Blue Flag is internationally the recognition and quality symbol for good beaches and marinas.

What are the criteria for the beaches?

• The bathing water is of excellent quality.
• The beach is kept clean.
• There are enough toilets and waste bins on the beach.
• Rescue materials and a first aid post are available on the beach.
• Information activities are organized to protect the natural environment of the sea, beach, and dunes.

More information: https://www.blauwevlag.nl/