Hulst council is located in the most south eastern part of Zeeland. It boasts a total surface area of over 25.000 hectares and thereby represents the largest part of East Zeeland Flanders. This location is also typical of Hulst’s character. Above all else, the green Hulst council, located between the Westerschelde and Flanders, exudes a real Flemish atmosphere.
Living & Working
Approximately 30 km from Antwerp, the border council of Hulst offers various different living options: living in Hulst itself, with its bustling town centre, or living in one of the rural villages, each with its own culture and own characteristics. You will be able to choose from a variety of properties to purchase or rent. There really is something for everyone.
The town has numerous provisions on offer. In addition to an extensive service package where healthcare and education are concerned, the 28.000 inhabitants can also enjoy a flourishing retail industry, many catering establishments, theatre shows, many clubs and extensive sports facilities, including an indoor and outdoor swimming pool. Plus the many different events, like the Christmas Market and the Hulst Dweildag (Mop Day) result in the necessary, yet very enjoyable, busyness. In short: Plenty of opportunities for relaxation and recreation.
Hulst offers both people and companies the space they need. Favourable conditions which entice companies to settle in Hulst go much further than attractive land prices and an excellent infrastructure. People also need to be able to live and relax in addition to going out to work. The right mixture of all those elements results in an excellent settlement climate for companies. And this is exactly what you’ll find in Hulst.
The fortified town of Hulst
Hulst is one of the best preserved fortified towns in our country. This, together with the town’s unmistakable Burgundian character, has resulted in many day visitors. The shops in Hulst town centre are open seven days a week. Monday has been market day since the olden days. This is when the historic market square is completely filled up with stalls. Weather permitting, the many terraces around the square are a very popular place to sit and watch the world go by. You will discover many old facades and buildings when you wander through the town centre, which are proof of an age old history.
The Willibrordus Basilica, the town hall and the many other monumental buildings have turned Hulst into a large, yet dynamic, open air museum. The 3,5 km long town walls, constructed during the Eighty Years War, are a sight worth seeing all by themselves. The walls are surrounded by the town moat and the top offers first class views of the historic town centre. Hulst boasts 4 town gates. And these town gates of the most Flemish town of the Netherlands are always wide open!
Tranquillity & Space
Hulst is a rural council and has managed to preserve extensive areas of natural beauty. The North boasts the tranquil polder area, which exudes an extraordinary feeling of freedom, with its long tree dikes, coves and kolks. You can also see ships pass within a stone’s throw from the sea bank. There are also various camp sites in this area which is much loved by cyclists. The recreational area ‘De Vogel’, located near Hengstdijk, is ideal for windsurfing, fishing or swimming.
The utmost southern part of the council, along the Westerschelde, is home to ‘The Drowned Land of Saeftinge’. This is the largest brackish water area of Western Europe. This unique nature area, measuring 3.500 hectares, consists of silts and salt marshes and boasts a very rich flora and fauna. You will find the picturesque tidal harbour of Paal not far from the drowned land, where you can enjoy a trip out in a pleasure boat. The south of the council is mainly characterised by wooded areas, which will charm many nature lovers.
Reynaert de Vos
The land of Hulst is also the land of Reynaert de Vos. The medieval animal epic Van den Vos Reinaerde, which was written at the end of the twelfth century, represents one of the highlights of Dutch and even West European literature in its genre. The story deals with the cunning fox Reynaert, who plays nasty tricks on the values and standards of those times with his sly antics. Various town names directly refer to the land of Hulst in the medieval animal story text.
The Reynaert tradition is very much alive in Hulst. There are many clubs, streets and buildings which bear a name which refers to the Reynaert story.
The very active employers’ organisation is called Hulst Reynaertstad. You will find the Reynaert Monument at the Gentsepoort (Gate). This is a statue cast in bronze with a hard stone background depicting the court of King Nobel. It’s therefore no coincidence that Hulst calls itself the Reynaert Town.
Hulst Council
Postbus 49 4560 AA Hulst
Tel. 0114-389000