The wood of Schuddebeurs may be small, but it is rich. Rich in species, stories, and traces of the Dutch Golden Age. Wealthy merchants from Zierikzee once built their summer residences here.
Although World War II took its toll, some of the stately homes survived and still grace the landscape today. The surrounding forest is managed by Staatsbosbeheer, which helps preserve rare species and the historical structure of the landscape. You’ll find oaks, beeches, hawthorns, and conifers, as well as rare wildflowers such as wood anemones and hedge woundwort.
Nesting birds like owls, woodpeckers, and nuthatches thrive among the old trees. And each spring, the grounds of Mon Plaisir become home to a colony of grey herons. In a nearby section called the “Forest of the Future,” a living memorial has taken root. This is a place where people plant trees to mark births, anniversaries, and farewells.
In Schuddebeurs, you can see how culture and nature together shaped the landscape. Its location on sandy soils just outside Zierikzee, the landscaped estates, and the species-rich forest structure show that the delta was not only used functionally, but also designed with aesthetic and symbolic intent.