The steamer "Excelsior" arrives in Vlissingen

When our photographer visited Zeeland he probably traveled by this boat. The salon steamer "Excelsior" was one of the vessels that transported each summer hundreds of day tourists between Flemish cities and the ports in Zeeland. The "Excelsior" offered first and second class compartments for its passengers, while departures and arrivals were accompanied by music.

A budding sea resort

The Grand Hotel des Bains on Boulevard Evertsen in Vlissingen opened in 1886, only a dozen of years before this photo was taken. Better railway and maritime connections ensured a steady flow of summer tourists to Vlissingen. The building of this hotel, which offered 56 rooms, a restaurant and a concert hall, contributed largely to the transformation of the industrial city into a sea resort.

Middelburg town hall

Our photographer couldn't overlook some of the more striking buildings in Zeeland, as this late gothic town hall which can still be admired in Middelburg.

Some posters on the left advertise the variety show of the Dutch theatre pioneer Frits van Haarlem. Based in Amsterdam, his madly popular shows toured the provinces and included comedians, singers, acrobats, jugglers and eventually film projections.

Middelburg panorama

Most day tourists in Zeeland had lunch in the hotel, took a bath or spent time on the beaches enjoying the fresh air. Our photographer however preferred to explore different locations and found plenty of sights and fine ancient architecture to capture in Middelburg and Zierikzee.

This photo was taken from the abbey tower in Middelburg and shows part of the town as well as the canal and countryside of Walcheren.

Zierikzee town hall

The Meelstraat in Zierikzee, dominated by the town hall tower, hasn't changed much in the last hundred years - if it weren't for the cars that replaced the horse-drawn carriages and the playing children.

Gravensteen in Zierikzee

As a photographer in the late 19th century you were still bound to have some mesmerized onlookers, as here in Zierikzee. The large building in the centre was originally the residence of the count of Holland and Zeeland, and the seat of power in the area, before it served as the city jail. The present building was completed in 1526. It can still be visited today.

Terneuzen

A view from the Noordkaai.

Swimming in the harbour

The location of this harbour scene is unknown, but the presence of two boys ready for a swim, makes it all the more remarkable - and quite inconceivable today.

The casino of Monte-Carlo

This superb bird's eye view of Monte-Carlo and its prominent casino and opera building, is the only photo in the album made outside of Belgium and the Netherlands. The famous beaux-arts casino was built in 1879, with several expansions through 1910. While not dated in the album, the image shows the casino's 1890 additions and was, as the rest of the album, undoubtedly made shortly after.

Graslei, Ghent

From Ghent, our photographer left several images that readily invite us to a comparison with our own time.
At the end of the 19th century inland waterway vessels still moored on the quays of the Graslei and the Korenlei in the centre of Ghent, long before they became the city's main tourist hotspot and sightseeing boats replaced the transport barges.

Coupure, Ghent

The "Coupure" connecting Ghent with Bruges was built in 1751 and remained a busy waterway until the early 1970s when it was made obsolete by the Ringvaart.

Shooting practice for the militia

Members of the Ghent militia are practicing in the outskirts. By the looks of it, it's not entirely clear where it was most dangerous to be, in front or behind the shooters.

Flower corso in the streets of Ghent

Crowds watch the decorated horse-drawn carriages parading through the streets, as part of the summer fair of 1897. It's interesting to see how people dressed up for the occasion. The fair's programme also included a fishing tournament and a balloon ride.

Demolition of de St. Jansstraat in Ghent, 1898

Demolitions in the old city centre were part of the modernisation project of mayor Emile Braun, aiming to create open spaces and broad avenues, and display the historic buildings. Pictured here are the old Belfry tower and St. Nicholas Church.

Flower market on the Kouter in Ghent

People stroll through the flower market on the Kouter, a Saturday and Sunday tradition that has been kept alive up until today. Some traditions never die.