Spoiler alert. This is a dog story. If you’re a cat person, ambivalent about dogs , don’t take short breaks, or oddly, hope this is going to be a Covid story, then read no further.
To be clear, the dog in this story is not a Covid-dog or pandemic puppy. She’s a 30-month-old Portuguese water dog with the worst case of FOMO (fear of missing out) I’ve witnessed in any species. So, any decisions about what to do with her when we have a weekend trip planned or over the summer comes with the weight of knowing that the dog will be seriously miffed if left behind.
And so it was that our hotel search for the recent All-Saints weekend in Zeeland drifted into a Shakespearian dichotomy: ‘To filter or not to filter’ for accommodation allowing pets. The answer to that question factored in what you can do with the dog otherwise and the pros and cons of pet sitting and boarding, but also how dog-friendly the country/place you intend to visit really is.
We also weighed up the driving distance and how well the dog travels, the accommodation setup and activities to do with the dog. Lastly, and probably most importantly, we asked ourselves: Will the dog add to the overall leisure experience?
Truth be known, we half planned to go to Zeeland because we know the Dutch are laid back when it comes to pets, and enjoy seeing their dogs doing circle work with a newly-formed pack of freedom-loving furry friends of all shapes and sizes.
If you’ve been scolded by authorities or dog-haters at beaches in France, Belgium or elsewhere and struggle to believe this, Zeeland are happy to set you straight: “It doesn’t get much better than this, taking your dog to the beach. Wet nose high in the salty air, snout smothered in sand and, yep, shake out that fur in the wind. Basically, dogs just adore the endless beaches here in Zeeland.”
There is another, perhaps silly, reason why we couldn’t in good conscience leave our dog behind for this trip… it is where she was born. The breeder we bought her from is based in the Zeeland area and she even has a Dutch doggy passport. This is not a pampered pet quirk; it is an official document and needed when you travel cross-border with your dog, to prove all vaccinations are up to date.
So, we always make a mental note when travelling avec chien to pack her vaccination passport in the same bag as our own travel IDs and, indeed today, Covid-vaccination passes. The irony of this development isn’t lost on us, either! But again, this isn’t a Covid story, so no more said about that.
Pets allowed vs. pets welcomed
Hotel and travel booking platforms have really taken the hard work and surprises out of travelling with or without pets. Not checking at least three boxes in the search filters is an unpardonable sin nowadays. Seasoned travellers know better or they learned the hard way like us.
For our Zeeland trip, the ‘pets allowed’ box was duly marked, alongside the ‘heated pool’, ‘free parking’, and ‘breakfast included’. The choice came down to a few prospects around the popular town of Domburg and one that caught our eye located right by the main beach near Renesse, further north.
The well-preserved dunes and vast stretches of beach around Zeeland are a treat in all seasons. Summers can be pretty busy and we typically go much further afield when the kids have more time off, so villages like Renesse on the North Sea island of Schouwen-Duiveland are ideal for a short autumn break. The travel time from Brussels, where we live, usually only takes a little longer than driving to the popular, more built-up parts of the Belgian coast due to the difference in traffic.
We also love walking and biking in the nature so the Dutch coast is better for that too. The Schouwen Noordstrand and Kop van Schouwen nature reserves in the vicinity are perfect for refreshing strolls or full-on rides. Following well-marked trails along the coast and through farmland you can stop over in neighbouring Burgh-Haamstede, with its mediaeval castle, restaurants and village park as notable attractions. A little further west is the Westerlichttoren, an iconic lighthouse dating back to 1837. Discover more to see and do in Zeeland.
Dog-eared stories
The Hotel ‘t Klokje, named after the beach area it fronts, deserves a mention in this dog-eared story because it really delivered what we needed for the recent getaway weekend. Rest, relaxation, fuss-free hospitality, and a fresh (even brisk) sea breeze to fill our spirits.
A special dog ‘arrival pack’ and greetings at the reception from the hotelier’s own curious Rottweiler puppy let us know that ‘pets allowed’ is more like ‘pets welcomed’ in this case. Dozens of the other guests with their pooches no doubt felt the same.
We took two rooms – one for the adults and one for our son, his friend and the dog. Call this little separation the only perk of paying the bill. After all, holidaying with your dog doesn’t mean taking a break from the sensory joys of dog ownership; the odorous offerings, night-noises and early morning walks. In fact, being able to sub-contract some of these joys was a big priority when deciding whether to get a dog in the first place… that our kids were old enough to help us take care of her!
When you grow up in a dog-family, the chances of one day eventually getting one of your own are pretty high. That fateful decision is usually taken once the circumstances and priorities are all in line; you have enough time, money, space and patience to train and care for the new member of the family.
Yet in this equation too many people underestimate one very important factor; what dog-ownership does to your mobility and freedom. It changes everything. Whether this sounds ominous or uplifting loops rather neatly back to the opening reader warning. And if you reached this far it must surely mean your mantra is ‘have dog, will travel’.
