Today was the last of six weekly winter beach rides with work horses (traditionally) on the island of Schouwen in Zeeland Province, NL. These are fun celebrations in six little villages on the island. The horses are decorated with colourful wreaths and pompons. A selection of photos from my "real" camera, five with horses and nine from my short walk around the event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC5CuK

#strao #zeeland #paarden #horses

Straô = winter beach ride for work horses on the island of Schouwen (Zeeland province) to dust off their winter stable legs, fourth one of the season, now in Ellemeet at the Brouwersdam. Four more photos in reply.

#straô #schouwen #ellemeet #renesse #zeeland #horses #paarden #drafthorses #equestrian

A long line of draft & other horses leaving the beach:

#straô #horses

This was the second ride of the season, in the village of Burgh-Haamstede. The first one was last week in Renesse and there will be four more rides from different villages on each coming Saturday. Entering the sea to wash the dust off their winter stable legs:

#straô #horses

Yesterday I was at the second "Straô" of the season, winter beach ride for draft horses on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland in Zeeland province. Cold but happy faces everywhere and some beautifully adorned horses with colourful wreaths & pompoms. More photos and a few short videos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC2zLG

#straô #schouwen #zeeland #burgh #haamstede #horses #drafthorses

Info in Dutch: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straô or on a dedicated website that I visited a couple of days ago but is now offline, unfortunately: http://www.straoburghhaamstede.nl Hopefully it will be back. (There are other websites but they are all very touristy & clickbaity.) #straô #schouwen #zeeland

Last week the first one was in Renesse, yesterday it was in Burgh-Haamstede, coming Saturdays they will be in Noordwelle, Ellemeet, Scharendijke, Serooskerke. Fun to check out if you're in the neighbourhood. #straô #schouwen #zeeland

Yesterday Sat 18 Feb was the day of the "Straô" in #BurghHaamstede in the Dutch coastal province of #Zeeland. It's an early season beach ride with (work) horses, often decorated with wreaths and colourful pompoms. This was the 2nd one, 4 more to go in other villages. Photos from https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/strao/

#strao #straô #Burgh #Haamstede #horses #paarden #trekpaard #ZeeuwsTrekpaard #ZeeuwsPaard #zeeland #schouwen #northsea #noordzee #strand #strandrit #beach #beachride #CulturalHeritage #erfgoed