Ouwerkerk Between Tides and History

Ouwerkerk brings together village history, nature and the history of the Watersnoodramp. It is considered the oldest village on Schouwen-Duiveland and probably dates back to the 11th century. When planning your trip, you can choose between nature watching, water activities and the Watersnoodmuseum in the caissons; each option has its own conditions.

Tidal Pools and Water Activities

At low tide, Ouwerkerk’s tidal pools become visible. They lie at the foot of the dike. The water left in them offers a glimpse of the underwater world of the Oosterschelde without getting you wet. This means that observing the pools depends on the tide. It differs from canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding in the waters of the Krekengebied: there, you move across the water; at the pools, you observe the life beneath it.

You can canoe or go stand-up paddleboarding in the waters of the Krekengebied. You can also fish for eel and trout in the Krekengebied with a permit.

Krekengebied: Nature and Birdlife

The Ouwerkerk Krekengebied is a 140-hectare nature reserve. After the 1953 dike breach, it was transferred to Staatsbosbeheer. Many songbirds, such as chiffchaffs and willow warblers, breed there; you can also spot kingfishers, swans, woodpeckers, great crested grebes and birds of prey. The water activities and birdlife offer two different perspectives on the same natural area.

Watersnoodmuseum and Caissons

The caissons used to close the large dike breaches after the Watersnoodramp stand in Ouwerkerk; the Watersnoodmuseum is housed inside them. Unlike the Krekengebied, with its nature reserve and birdlife, the focus here is on the structures and their role after the flood. Ouwerkerk’s historical connections span from the village’s probable beginnings in the 11th century to the dike closures after the Watersnoodramp.

You can take an audio tour of the caissons using the Watersnoodmuseum’s free WATERgezicht app. It also includes walking and cycling routes in the surrounding area. The youth route offers a different way to explore alongside the audio tour: it takes you through the museum and comes with an accompanying activity booklet.

There is a spacious car park in front of the museum. At Het Vijfde Caisson, you can have lunch or something to eat on the spacious terrace without visiting the museum.

Memorial and Zuidbout Dive Site

For a place to remember during your visit, you can go to the new cemetery and pause at the Watersnoodmonument. To reach the Zuidbout dive site, you have to walk quite a way along the pier because the water is very shallow near the shore. The conditions for your water activities differ clearly: at the tidal pools, it’s the tide that matters; for fishing, you need a permit; and at the Zuidbout dive site, you have to walk along the pier.

Discover more destinations: Zonnemaire, Noordgouwe, Scharendijke, Brouwershaven, Ellemeet, Zierikzee, Oosterland, Dreischor

For the main travel overview: Schouwen-Duiveland.