Since 2009, we have proudly been a Host of Oosterschelde National Park.
The largest national park in the Netherlands
A rich saltwater world surrounded by a fringe of brackish-water nature reserves. Due to wind and tide, there is something new to discover every day. Go out and enjoy the many birds, the surprises around the tide line and the wonderful underwater world. See the tangible history of the Zeeuwen and the sea.
For more info, check out NPO's site
Spectacular marine life
Spectacular marine life
The colors and animals remind you of a tropical destination: the underwater life of the Oosterschelde is stunningly beautiful and wondrous. On and between the rocks it is teeming with life. Good news: you can view the marine life even without a diving suit!
1. From a jetty: lie on your belly and peer into the water.
2. Along the foot of the dike, stones and small pools full of life appear at low tide.
3. Take a look at one of the tide pools that remain full of water at low tide. You can find them via np-oosterschelde.nl/getijdenbakken
Take a net with you!
Source: NP Oosterschelde
Birds
Hundreds of thousands of birds visit Oosterschelde National Park every year. It is an important area for migratory birds, although you see many birds throughout the year. We are proud of birds that breed in the Oosterschelde and do extra our best to protect them. You can find our favorite birding spots at https://www.np-oosterschelde.nl/natuur/vogels/
Tip: Pay attention to the tide: At low tide, birds forage for food on the mudflats and tidal flats. When the water is high, they rest on and behind the dikes, in brackish marsh areas.
Source: NP Oosterschelde
Eat what the tide provides
Food from Oosterschelde National Park feeds many mouths. The harbor porpoise eats young herring, the oystercatcher eats lugworms from the mud, and brent geese eat their fill of large seagrass. The area also produces many goodies for humans. Mussels, oysters, cockles, sea lettuce, sea lavender, glasswort, currant weed, periwinkles and lobster, for example. You can read how you can enjoy this yourself at https://www.np-oosterschelde.nl/natuur/eten-uit-de-oosterschelde/
Tip: Visit Yerseke with its oyster pits and mussel auction.
Tip! During the summer season you can taste all kinds of delicacies from the sea at Orisant. On Tuesday evenings, the owner cooks many delicacies for you on a grill on the terrace. For the dates of this Tasting of the Sea look at the Activities
Source: NP Oosterschelde
Discover history in the landscape
Sea dikes, inland dikes, Delta works: the Oosterschelde is the result of the centuries-old interaction between man and the sea. You see reclaimed land and land that was given back to the water. Under the mud lie drowned villages from different times. Did you know that the Roman trading post of Ganuenta was nearby? And that the lonely Plompe Toren on Schouwen-Duiveland used to be surrounded by an entire village? Discover more special places on np-oosterschelde.nl/nature/visible-history
Tip! Behind the Topshuis on Neeltje Jans you have a beautiful view of the colossal pillars of the Oosterscheldekering.
Tip: In the Plompe Toren is a free information center with a beautiful view.
Source: NP Oosterschelde
