A naturist hike on Walcheren (Zeeland)

A Sunday Morning Walk

Whenever we stay at a campsite these days, I make it a point to look for pleasant—and, above all, suitable—routes for naturist walks. This was also the case around our campsite near Aagtekerke. The landscape of Walcheren is beautiful, so finding a nice route should be possible. Komoot is a great help in this. Before long, I found a route that seemed worthwhile, one where walking nude would be feasible. We decided on a footpath through the meadows along the Rapenburgsche Sprink.

During previous walks, I had already explored the route a bit, so I knew it was a beautiful path and had a rough idea of what to expect. There are still a few public roads that need to be crossed. On this lovely September Sunday, I set out extra early to enjoy a nude walk and soak in the beauty of nature in the rising sun.

It’s just after seven o’clock when I leave the campsite. The sun is just rising, casting the landscape in a warm, golden glow. The temperature is pleasant, and there’s a light breeze. It promises to be a lovely walk. At this early hour—especially on a Sunday in Zeeland—I don’t expect to encounter many people, which makes the route ideal for nude recreation.

From the campsite, I turn left and immediately cross the road onto the Geschieresweg. After about 500 meters, I leave the buildings behind and enjoy an open view in all directions. Even though it’s still a public road, I decide to shed my last piece of clothing here. There’s no one in sight, so it’s safe. Free and unbothered, I walk the final 500 meters in the nude, enjoying the approach to the start of the footpath.

The footpath is a mown strip along the edge of the meadows, meaning you are walking across the land of the farmers who make this path available. As soon as I turn left onto the path, it slopes gently downward, taking me between the reed beds along the Rapenburgsche Sprink. You’re not completely out of sight, but walking nude here doesn’t attract much attention, and you immediately feel one with nature. All you hear is the rustling of the wind in the reeds, the birds, and the cows grazing in the meadows.

The path curves to the right and later back to the left. I stroll through the natural surroundings at a leisurely pace, watching the sun slowly climb higher in the sky. After about 900 meters, I reach the Rapenburgweg. The final section of the footpath runs parallel to the road, making you more visible. In addition, you need to follow the road for about 40 meters before rejoining the path on the other side. There isn’t much traffic, and there’s a spot to wait safely for any passing vehicles. Today, it’s no problem, and I cover those meters nude without any issues.

On the other side of the road, the footpath continues. The field to the left has already been harvested, making you more visible from the road. However, if you keep walking, you soon blend back into the surroundings. About halfway along this stretch is my favorite part: the small hand-pulled ferry across the Rapenburgsche Sprink. Not for playing around, but still a fun experience to use. ☺️

On the other side, the path continues, taking me once again between the reed beds. Every now and then, there’s an open spot perfect for capturing beautiful photos. As I approach a large bush, my presence is noticed by a few pheasants perched within it. They take off in a noisy flurry. I’m probably just as startled by them as they are by me.

Once I’ve recovered from the scare, I continue on toward the Koekoeksweg. Crossing it is a bit of a challenge, as it’s a fairly busy road with a bike path alongside it. Not only do you have to cross the road, but you also need to follow it briefly to reach the gate of the footpath, which lies about 80 meters to the right. A wooden step has been provided to help you get over the fence next to the gate.

On weekdays, there’s almost constant traffic even early in the morning, so you can’t avoid putting something on. The road is easy to survey, however, and on this Sunday morning, there’s no traffic in sight. The shorts aren’t needed today. At a leisurely pace, I walk to the gate and step over it.

The first stretch after the gate is still visible from the road, so I pick up the pace a little. A bit further on, there’s a second gate, and once I’m past it, I’m completely free to walk between the meadows. From the first section, there’s a beautiful view over the polder and the village of Aagtekerke, so I pause to take a few photos at leisure. Behind me, I hear a car pass by, but I’m already a good distance from the road.

I continue walking leisurely to the gate, climb over it, and carry on along the path. The temperature is rising slightly, and I can feel the sun and a gentle breeze caressing my bare skin. I can honestly say I’m thoroughly enjoying myself. If there had been benches, I would have certainly stopped to sit for a while.

The path now curves to the right. To my left, the reed beds sway gently in the wind. On the right, a meadow stretches out, where curious cows watch to see who is passing by. At the end of this stretch is a second hand-pulled ferry, which crosses the Westkapelse waterway.

From the ferry, the path runs very close to the water. It can be a bit slippery at times, so you need to watch your step. I continue on toward the Kloosterweg, a quiet road to cross before resuming the path on the other side. From here, you’re visible from the houses further along and any passing traffic, but it’s at a considerable distance, so there’s no direct confrontation.

At the end of this path, you can go two ways. Turning right leads to another hand-pulled ferry, and then the path heads toward Mariekerke, where it ends and meets a public road again. Turning left, however, takes you onto a much longer trail, so I decide to go left. This section is uncharted territory for me, so I’m walking on a bit of a whim. Up to the Groeneweg, the path cuts straight through the meadows with no shelter at all. It’s still a fair distance from any buildings or roads, so I continue on.

Upon reaching the Groeneweg, the path continues on the other side, but you have to walk at least 140 meters along the public road to get there. Fortunately, there’s clear visibility in all directions, so any approaching traffic can be seen well in advance, allowing you to put something on if needed. Today, that’s not necessary at all. Long live Sundays in Zeeland. With no one in sight, I stroll freely and comfortably toward the next gate. Once back on the path, I quickly disappear among the reed beds, feeling alone in the world again. Pure bliss.

To reach the next path, you need to walk a short stretch along the public road.

The path here is narrow and winding, clearly not often traveled. I can feel the wet stalks brushing against my bare skin. Suddenly, I notice the reed beds across from me moving, and something blue approaches. It turns out to be a clothed hiker walking the route in the opposite direction. We greet each other, and I continue as if it’s the most natural thing in the world to be walking nude here—which, in my view, it should be. I walk on until a wooden bridge leads me to the next section.

Via een houten brug gaat het pad door naar de andere kant van het water

 

A wooden bridge, gates, and large wooden posts—perfect for climbing. Even though I’m no longer a child, some things are just too much fun not to do in the nude.

Enough playing around—time to continue the walk. The footpath extends all the way to the Kloosterweg, where it ends. With the peacefulness of the entire route still fresh in my mind, I step onto the public road to turn left back toward the Groeneweg. Just to be safe, I glance behind me and see two hikers approaching. I hadn’t expected that, but then again, it’s nearly nine o’clock. Time to put my shorts on for now. I walk along to the Groeneweg and turn left. Halfway along, I reach the footpath where I had first emerged. I take off my shorts again and follow the previous route, now in the opposite direction, back toward the campsite.

The Route I Walked

 

 

 

When I return to the end of the footpath where my walk began, I take another good look around. Even though it’s already half past nine, there isn’t a soul in sight. That means I can manage the last 500 meters as well. At the spot where I had undressed, some sheep are now grazing, bleating loudly—probably expecting the farmer to bring them food any moment. A perfect cue to put my shorts back on and walk the final stretch back to the campsite. Sitting at the breakfast table, I savor the memories of a wonderful nude walk.

The sheep are hungry and waiting for the farmer.