Did you know that there is a legend that says the founder of Zierikzee came paddling in a kayak? He came from overseas, and his name was Zierik. The contraction is not hard to trace. The kayak really exists and is on display at the Town Hall Museum. And whether the story is true you will also find out here. What is certain is that the first dikes were built in 1150 so that around 1200 Zierikzee could really be put on the map. In this wonderful museum, you can see in broad outline how Zierikzee developed. You will learn more about how sheep, salt, madder and the lively sea trade brought prosperity to this beautiful monumental city. Zierikzee has no less than 568 monuments and one of them is the former town hall, which houses the museum. Feast your eyes outside the museum too and ask about the possibilities of visiting Gravensteen (see blog on this site). But the photogenic Zuidhavenpoort is also well worth taking a look at and capturing. Open daily from 11am-5pm (Sundays from 1pm and Mondays only during school holidays). For more information: www.stadhuismuseum.nl