Oostburg borders the Het Groote Gat nature reserve. At the same time, the town’s history as a port and its post-war reconstruction shape its character. If you’re looking for a destination where nature observation and cultural history offer different points of interest, you’ll find both here: a wetland with visible traces of former fortifications and a town whose history can be read in its buildings and monuments.

Nature and historical traces at Het Groote Gat

Het Groote Gat consists of a large creek surrounded by reed beds, shrubs, hedges, pollarded willows and wet grassland. Forts from the Eighty Years’ War, part of the Staats-Spaanse Linies, are still visible in the area. Landscape and history come together in a tangible place: the waterways and banks provide the setting for the visible remains of the defensive line.

There is a freely accessible birdwatching hide. You can also cross the Groote Gat from the Kaas en Broodsedijk via a footbridge. If you’re planning a cycling trip, you can follow the “Route door Zeeuws-Vlaanderen,” which passes through Het Groote Gat on its way to Oostburg. Route details may change, so check them before setting out. The hide, footbridge and cycling route offer different ways to explore the area.

From port town to reconstruction

Around 941, Oostburg was listed as “castrum Osburgh” in a register of possessions belonging to Ghent’s Sint-Pietersabdij. From the 10th century onward, the town developed into a thriving port, with access to the sea via an arm of the Zwin and to the Scheldt. These early references give the town’s history a different emphasis from its more recent past.

In September and October 1944, Oostburg was bombed and completely destroyed. After the war, the town was rebuilt in what is known as reconstruction architecture. The reconstruction theme is also reflected in the significance of the Eenhoorn Monument: the unicorn represents the courage and mental strength to rebuild Oostburg time and again after destruction. Mrs Messer-Heijbroek designed the monument in 1952.

Building history, museums and monuments

The Ledel Theatre also tells the story of the region’s eventful past. Its building began as a church founded in 1689 by Huguenots who had come to West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. A concrete relief on the façade depicts the theatre’s activities. The Switchback War Museum is on the edge of Oostburg’s centre; the site of today’s Sint-Elooikerk has a religious history stretching back almost 2,000 years.

The war memorial commemorates the bombing of Oostburg in October 1944. The abstract stainless-steel sculpture stands on a natural-stone plinth. The names and ages of 140 victims are inscribed on its four sides. Alongside the town’s history, the memorial offers a tangible place of remembrance.

At the Watertoren Oostburg is “De Druppels,” a work of art by Johnny Beerens commissioned by the municipality in 1995 and repainted in 2014. The Watertoren is 55 metres high and the highest viewpoint in West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. The tower and artwork thus represent two different aspects of the same structure: a regional landmark and a public work of art.

Market, swimming and planning your stay

The weekly market is held every Wednesday from 08:00 to 16:00 at the Markt and Ledelplein in the heart of Oostburg. If you want to make the market a key part of your visit, check the date in advance, as the schedule may change. This way, you can plan the market as a distinct activity rather than simply assuming it will be on.

Another option is the De Eenhoorn indoor swimming pool. The pool is 25 metres long and has six competition lanes. During the day, activities mainly include recreational swimming, school swimming, swimming lessons and options such as MBVO—more exercise for older adults. As the range of activities may change, check what’s currently available before visiting.

These themes offer different starting points for planning your time in Oostburg, without setting out a fixed daily itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Zuidzande, Schoondijke, Eede, Waterlandkerkje, Groede, Nieuwvliet, Ijzendijke, Nieuwvliet-Bad.

For the wider travel overview: Sluis.