In addition to the Eastern Scheldt, there is also the Western Scheldt, or as the Zeelanders call it, 'd'Onte'.
These waters are among the busiest in the world, but they are not one of the easiest waters to manoeuvre due to the many sandbanks and the turning tides. Together with the port city of Vlissingen, the birthplace of Dutch hero Michiel de Ruyter, it forms the maritime centre of the region. Their local motto is, therefore "if one wants to be big, they have to start small" and so this once small village that traded in hides, salt, herring, tar and wool has grown into a world port where, in addition to trading ships from all over the world, also cruise ships moor.
