At low tide, the tidal pools of Ouwerkerk appear at the foot of the dike. Water remains in them, making it possible to observe underwater life in the Oosterschelde without getting wet. If this glimpse is the reason for your visit, plan it around low tide: the tides determine when the pools become visible and observation is possible.

Nature and Water in the Krekengebied

The 140-hectare Krekengebied Ouwerkerk nature reserve was transferred to Staatsbosbeheer after the dike breach of 1953. Many songbirds, such as willow warblers and chiffchaffs, breed here. You can also spot kingfishers, swans, woodpeckers, great crested grebes and birds of prey. The area offers a range of nature-watching opportunities, from observing nesting songbirds to looking for other bird species.

There are also opportunities out on the water: you can canoe or stand-up paddle in the waters of the Krekengebied. If you want to fish, you can catch eel and trout there with a permit. The permit is a specific requirement for this activity. Conditions are different at the Zuidbout diving site: to reach it, you have to walk quite a long way along the pier, as the water is very shallow near the shore.

Watersnoodmuseum and Caissons

In Ouwerkerk, the Watersnoodmuseum is housed in caissons that were used to close large breaches in the dikes after the Watersnoodramp. Their purpose is therefore closely connected to the history of the area. The museum also offers a special youth trail through the exhibition, with an accompanying activity booklet. This gives young visitors who are interested in the trail an option of their own alongside a general museum visit.

With the museum’s free WATERgezicht app, you can take an audio tour through the caissons. The app also includes routes for walks and bike rides in the surrounding area. The audio tour and the routes cater to different interests: you can explore the caissons with audio or discover the area on foot or by bike. There is a spacious car park right in front of the museum.

For a break to eat, Het Vijfde Caisson is another option: visitors can have lunch there or enjoy something to eat on the spacious terrace, even without visiting the museum. A museum visit is therefore not required to stop there for a meal.

Village History and Places of Remembrance

Ouwerkerk is considered the oldest village on Schouwen-Duiveland and probably dates back to the 11th century. During your visit, you can go to the new cemetery and pause at the Watersnoodmonument. The monument and the museum offer different perspectives: the monument invites personal reflection, while at the museum the caissons also hold significance because of their role in closing the dike breaches.

When planning your stay, it is worth keeping these different highlights in mind: the tidal pools depend on low tide; in the Krekengebied, you can choose between birdwatching and activities on the water; and the museum and Watersnoodmonument offer different points of connection with history. This way, you can choose what to see in Ouwerkerk based on the topics that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Scharendijke, Kerkwerve, Zierikzee, Renesse, Brouwershaven, Dreischor, Bruinisse, Burgh-Haamstede

Return to the main travel guide: Schouwen-Duiveland.