Goes

Goes is the market town at the centre of Zuid-Beveland, the peninsula between the Oosterschelde and the Westerschelde, and it kept a compact old centre with a harbour running into the middle of it, a large late Gothic church, the Grote of Maria Magdalenakerk, and a market square that still holds a Tuesday market. Its distinguishing feature is the Stoomtrein Goes-Borsele, a heritage steam railway running about ten kilometres from the town along the old Zeeland line to Hoedekenskerke on the Westerschelde, with restored Dutch and German locomotives and pre-war carriages, operating on set days through the season. The Bevelanden around are fruit country and the orchards flower in April. The Zeeland tradition of ring-riding, in which horsemen at the gallop spear a small ring on a lance, is strong in the villages here through the summer.

What you actually see

• A harbour into the centre - the water running to the market square.
• A steam railway - ten kilometres of restored line to the Westerschelde.
• A Tuesday market - the old function of the town still running.
• Ring-riding in the villages - the Zeeland horseback tradition through the summer.

When to go

April to October; April for the blossom. A day.

Honest expectations

The steam railway runs on set days only, seasonal, and books up - check the timetable. Ring-riding events are village occasions on scattered dates. The town centre is small.

Nearby

The Oosterschelde is north; Middelburg and Veere are west.