An elevation difference of around 30 metres separates the Abdijbossen from the adjacent Noordpolder van Ossendrecht. This transition between forest and polder landscape shapes many of the natural features you can discover in Ossendrecht. Marked hiking trails, one museum with an audio tour through the village, and another museum about the history of the Second World War offer different options for planning your trip.
Discover dunes, forest and polder on foot
The Ossendrechtse Duinen are designated as a quiet area. There are two marked hiking trails there: Haas and Mier. The Haas trail passes through the habitat of the smooth snake and the European nightjar. The Ossendrechtse Duinen near Ossendrecht and Putte also provide a habitat for woodlarks, stonechats and tiger beetles. If you are interested in species and their habitats, you’ll find plenty to explore here, though an encounter with the animals is not guaranteed.
A different scale awaits you around the Volksabdij: the 30-minute Abdij trail passes through mature park woodland and a stretch of heathland. The Volksabdij, near the Abdijbossen, is one of the nature gateways to Brabant, the Brabantse Wal and Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. Among the birds that nest in the Abdijbossen are Eurasian jays, great tits, blue tits and robins. The approximate 30-metre elevation difference to the adjacent Noordpolder places the wooded and open landscapes in contrast with one another.
In the Noordpolder van Ossendrecht, you can walk alongside old ditches, fields and pollarded willows. The pattern of ditches is preserved for its cultural and historical value. From the Brabantse Wal at the foot of the Noordpolder, you can enjoy a view across the polder landscape. On the Zoomroute, the steep edge of the Brabantse Wal ends near Ossendrecht. These varied landscape features offer more than one way to experience the area: forest, heath and agricultural polderland each have their own character.
Village history and museums
Museum Den Aanwas is housed in a Rijksmonument dating from 1743. The building was the home of a former large-scale farmer. At the museum, a life story provides historical context for life in southwestern Brabant at the time. An audio tour lasting around an hour takes you through the village of Ossendrecht and offers a different focus from a visit to the building: you get to know the village through the story.
In 2026, Museum Den Aanwas is open to visitors on Sundays from 5 April through 25 October, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Check the opening hours before your visit. The Oorlogsmuseum Ossendrecht houses a special collection of objects from the Second World War. It is a private museum founded by Jan de Jonge. The museum may also offer a so-called Battle Tour. This visits monuments and battlefields in the area around the museum, as well as sites connected with the Battle of Antwerp and the Scheldt. Contact the museum to ask about specific dates.
Trails and practical information
The Brabantse Wal hiking route is 5.6 kilometres long and starts at the Groene Halte Postbaan in Ossendrecht. From Roosendaal railway station, you can reach the Groene Halte Postbaan by bus towards Bergen op Zoom; get off at the Postbaan stop. Check the current timetable before travelling. For another local discovery, Landwinkel Hoeve Melsen offers dairy products from local farmers and traditionally made farm cheeses. The selection may vary by season.
Discover more destinations: Woensdrecht, Hoogerheide, Huijbergen.
Return to the main travel overview: Woensdrecht.
