Dier & Zeeland
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For pet owners in Zeeland

Outdoors together.
Well prepared.

From Zeeland’s beaches to its forests and dunes: practical tips for safe outings with your pet, with a special focus on dogs.

Explore the topics
Renesse beach with sand, dunes and the North Sea
Renesse beach, on Schouwen-Duiveland. Photograph resized. Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
Dog unwell after drinking seawater? Contact your vet immediately if your dog has symptoms or may have swallowed a lot of seawater.
What you can do

Where are you going?

Useful information before you set off.

01 / AT THE COAST

Beach & salt water

Seawater is not drinking water. Help prevent problems during a day at the coast.

Read the beach tips02 / IN NATURE

Forest & dunes

A good walk starts with the area’s rules and attention to your dog.

Read the walking tips03 / AFTER YOUR WALK

Recognising ticks

Check your pet and remove an attached tick as soon as possible.

Read about ticks

The outdoor guide

A little care.
A big difference.

For a walk on Schouwen-Duiveland, a beach day on Walcheren or an outing elsewhere in Zeeland.

Check the signs on every visit. Access and lead requirements can vary by area and season.

Beach & sea

Do not let your dog drink seawater

Seawater contains a lot of salt. Drinking it can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. Swallowing large amounts can cause life-threatening salt poisoning, including during play.

Reduce the risk

  • Bring fresh drinking water and a bowl; offer water regularly.
  • Stop play if your dog snaps at waves or drinks seawater.
  • Rinse salt from the coat with fresh water after swimming.
  • Be aware of currents and waves. Do not force your dog to swim.
Seawater swallowed and symptoms?

Stop play and call your vet immediately. Do not wait for symptoms if you suspect a large intake. Vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, lethargy, unsteadiness, tremors or seizures are warning signs.

What can you do while calling the vet?

Keep your dog calm. Explain when it happened, how much water your dog may have swallowed and what symptoms you see. Do not induce vomiting or force water or food; follow your vet’s advice.

Sources: PDSA: beach safety · MSD Veterinary Manual: salt poisoning · AniCura: poisoning

Forest & dunes

Enjoy nature and respect others

Woodland path between trees with orange and golden autumn leaves
Autumn colours along a woodland path. Photo: Johannes Plenio / Unsplash · Unsplash License

Dogs are welcome on a lead in most Staatsbosbeheer areas. Some areas exclude dogs or have designated off-lead sections. Follow the signs at the entrance.

  • Stay on permitted paths and respect closed areas.
  • Give wildlife, nesting birds and other walkers space.
  • Keep your dog on a lead where required, including outside the nesting season.
  • Check your pet for ticks after walking.
In Zeeland too: check the area information first

Planning a walk on Schouwen-Duiveland, Walcheren or in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen? Check the land manager’s information before leaving and the access rules on arrival.

Mushrooms, plants and found food

Prevent your dog from eating unfamiliar things. Suspect your dog has swallowed something poisonous? Call your vet even if there are no symptoms yet. If possible, take a photo of what was eaten. Do not give home remedies.

Sources: Staatsbosbeheer: walking with dogs · Natuurmonumenten: access rules · AniCura: poisoning

Ticks

After a walk: a quick check

Ixodes ricinus tick, highly magnified under a microscope
A highly magnified tick. Microscope photograph; not shown at actual size. Photograph resized. Photo: Micropix · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ticks can transmit pathogens. Check your dog’s or cat’s skin and coat after time in green spaces. Look carefully between the hairs and remember to check yourself too.

Found a tick?

  1. Check that it really is a tick.
  2. Remove it as soon as possible with a suitable tick-removal tool.
  3. Grasp the tick close to the skin; do not squeeze its body. Do not apply oil or alcohol beforehand.
  4. Follow the tool’s instructions. With fine-pointed tweezers, pull gently straight upwards.
  5. Note the date and monitor the site and your pet.
When should you ask your vet for advice?

If removal is unsuccessful, the area becomes clearly inflamed or your pet later becomes unwell or lethargic. Also ask which preventive product is suitable. Use products only for the species they are intended for.

Source: LICG: ticks and tick-borne diseases

Warm days

Adapt your outing to the weather

On warm days, go out in the early morning or evening. Choose shade, limit exertion and bring drinking water. Sand and tarmac can become very hot. Never leave your pet in a hot car.

Heavy panting, weakness or collapse?

Suspect overheating? Start cooling immediately with cool tap water, move your dog into the shade and call your vet at once. Provide airflow. Do not wrap your dog in wet towels or force drinking.

Source: PDSA: heatstroke in dogs

Encounters on your walk

Has your dog been in a fight?

Do not put your hands between fighting dogs. Afterwards, take your dog to a quiet, safe place. Even a small puncture can hide deep injury. Contact your vet for assessment after a biting incident.

Difficulty breathing, collapse or heavy bleeding need immediate help. Remember that even your own dog may bite through pain or fear.

Sources: AniCura: wound treatment · AniCura: first aid for dogs

A new topic every week

Articles & tips

Practical articles about pets in Zeeland. Frequently asked chatbot topics help us choose what to cover next.

2026-10-06

Autumn walks in Zeeland: five tips for your dog

Cooler weather makes walking pleasant. Prepare for a trip to the forests and dunes and check your dog afterwards.

Woodland path between trees with orange and golden autumn leaves
Autumn colours along a woodland path. Photo: Johannes Plenio / Unsplash · Unsplash License
Read the article

Choose a suitable area before setting off. An off-lead zone often covers only part of a forest. Schouwen-Duiveland has designated zones in Westerschouwen and near Schelphoek, for example. Always follow local signs; lead requirements still apply outside the nesting season.

Check your dog’s skin and coat for ticks after a walk. Remove an attached tick promptly with a suitable tool. Do not apply oil or alcohol beforehand. If you are unsure or removal fails, ask your vet for advice.

Prevent your dog from eating unfamiliar mushrooms, plants or found food. If you suspect poisoning, call your vet immediately, even without symptoms. If possible, take a photo of what your dog ate.

Practical tips

  • Check the area’s rules before leaving.
  • Bring a lead, drinking water and poo bags.
  • Stay on permitted paths and give wildlife space.
  • Check your dog and yourself for ticks.
  • Save your vet’s phone number in your phone.

Sources: Staatsbosbeheer: Schouwen-Duiveland · LICG: teken · AniCura: vergiftiging

Zeeland & Zuid-Holland

Off-lead areas

Find an off-lead area in Zeeland or Zuid-Holland and open its location in Google Maps.

The map shows the area’s location, not its exact off-lead boundaries. Check the source and local signs. This directory is being expanded; coverage of every municipal dog field has not yet been confirmed.

Hondenspeeltuin/strandje Park Hitland Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel

Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel · Zuid-Holland

Listed in the DoggyDating off-lead directory. Check current boundaries, rules and seasonal restrictions before visiting.

Open Google MapsSource and rulesFind Google reviews

Move the map, zoom in or click a location.

Map imagery: OpenStreetMap. Routes and ratings open in Google Maps.

Find more off-lead areas in Google Maps: ZeelandFind more off-lead areas in Google Maps: Zuid-HollandRotterdam: Source and rulesDoggyDating

Sources checked: 6 October 2026

Schouwen-Duiveland

Vets on Schouwen-Duiveland

Find a nearby practice. Call ahead for appointments, opening hours and the current emergency service.

Overview of practice locations found, checked on 6 October 2026. Details may change; also check the practice website.

Before you leave

Pack for a pleasant walk.

Tick off what you have with you. A little preparation for a day outdoors in Zeeland.

This checklist resets when the page reloads.

If your pet is unwell

Unsure?
Call your vet.

This website provides general information. Your vet can assess what your pet needs.

Contact your vet immediately for:
  • Symptoms after drinking seawater or suspected poisoning.
  • Difficulty breathing, seizures or collapse.
  • Suspected overheating or a serious injury.

Call your own vet. Outside opening hours, the phone message often directs you to the on-call practice.

Frequently asked questions

Useful to know.

Can my dog run off-lead everywhere in Zeeland?

No. Rules differ by beach and nature area, and sometimes by season or time of day. Check the municipality’s or land manager’s information and always follow local signs.

Does this information also apply to cats?

The beach and walking tips mainly focus on dogs. Tick checks and protection from heat also matter for cats. Ask your vet for advice and products suitable for the species.

Can I wait if my dog becomes unwell after swimming?

Call your vet immediately if your dog develops symptoms after drinking seawater. Explain when your dog swam and what you see. Also call if you think your dog swallowed a lot of seawater.

Is this a veterinary practice?

No. Dier & Zeeland is an outdoor information guide for pet owners. Contact your own vet for examination, treatment and emergency care.

Further reading

Sources consulted on 6 October 2026. Always recheck local rules before your visit.