Kapelle: Ring Village Church, Memorial Site and Fruit Culture

Kapelle brings together local history, remembrance and fruit culture. The Nederlands Hervormde Kerk, the French military cemetery and the ZeeuwsFruitMuseum each offer a different perspective, while walking routes and nature round out the picture. If you’re planning a stay, these themes can help you explore Kapelle according to your interests.

Church history and remembrance

Kapelle is a ring village: the Nederlands Hervormde Kerk forms its centre, with houses arranged around it. The church building dates from 1908, and its front tower from 1877–1878. The church, with its tower and family grave, is significant for its architectural and cultural history; it is also valued as part of an ensemble. The church interior survived the iconoclasm.

The village also has literary connections: Annie M.G. Schmidt was born in Kapelle in 1911. In the Zuidhoek neighbourhood, also known as the “Jip en Janneke wijk,” the street names are named after characters from her stories.

Kapelle’s French military cemetery is the burial place of many French soldiers who died in the Netherlands during the Second World War. Charles Trepel and René Guy are also buried there. The Memorial 40-45 Kapelle is a ten-minute walk from Kapelle/Biezelinge railway station. The memorial regularly organises excursions to battlefields; check the booking details before travelling.

Fruit culture at the ZeeuwsFruitMuseum

At the ZeeuwsFruitMuseum, you can operate a preserved 1917 auction bell yourself and discover how fruit auctions used to work. Since the depot opened to visitors in 2023, it has also offered a behind-the-scenes look and a chance to see collection items in storage.

The museum café is open to everyone, including those not visiting the museum; lunch is also available for groups. The museum shop is also open to visitors who are not visiting the museum. It stocks Zeeuwse streekproducten (regional products from Zeeland) and products related to fruit and fruit growing. Group tours for four to 20 people are available by appointment only and cost €25.00 per group. As visitor services and stock may change, check the latest information about tours, the café and the shop before your visit.

Walking and exercise routes

The Fruit Route is a 17-kilometre walking trail through the orchards around Kapelle. The QR-FIT exercise route has two options: the longer route is 2.4 kilometres long and has twelve exercise posts, while the shorter route is 1.4 kilometres long and has nine. The route runs from the De Bloesem sports centre towards Ambachtsherenwegeling and returns to the sports centre via the Kapelse bos. For cycling plans, the FIKS Zeeland Midden cycling map is available at the Lectori bookshop, Weststraat 9–11.

Another exercise route in Kapelle features 16 exercises. It is mainly intended for older adults who want to train their strength and balance or do stretching exercises. Next to the Kapelse bos is a nature playground with logs and mounds for climbing and scrambling. The forest has also been transformed into a Kabouterbos (Gnome Forest); the gnomes can be recognised by their red hats.

Nature and village life

The Kapelse Moer is part of the Yerseke- en Kapelse Moer Natura 2000 site and is one of Zeeland’s oldest cultural landscapes. Water, peat and human activity have shaped it; today, it is home to special plants and meadow birds. General access is restricted.

The Kapelse Dagen is an annual village festival in the centre of Kapelle, featuring sporting activities, a funfair, music and a street market. If you’d like to plan your stay around the festival, check the dates announced each year.

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