Geersdijk Farming Harbour
About this location
Today the little harbour of Geersdijk is a quiet spot for watersports enthusiasts, but it used to be one of Noord-Beveland's seven farming harbours. Well into the 20th century, transport by water played a major role on what was then still an isolated island. Connections with the outside world ran via ships and ferries.
The farming harbours were essential for shipping out agricultural produce, especially sugar beets. On Noord-Beveland these were called 'sukerpeeën', or simply 'peeën'. After the decline of madder cultivation around 1870, the sugar beet grew into an important crop. Noord-Beveland was nicknamed 'Peeland' as a result, and locals sometimes still call themselves Peelanders.
Sugar beets are still grown here today, though transport now goes by truck to the sugar factory. To keep the memory of the old water transport alive, the Bietentocht (Beet Tour) has been sailed every year since 1999 with traditional flat-bottomed boats.
So the quiet little harbour of Geersdijk remains a lively reminder of Noord-Beveland's agricultural past.