At the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal, the maritime world is not just something to see from afar: the Portaal van Vlaanderen offers a visitor experience along the canal. There, you can learn about ships and locks and step into the role of a captain. A tour of the Nieuwe Sluis offers a different perspective on the locks: it includes a visit to the 18-metre-deep bridge cellar.

Ships and locks from different perspectives

There are also special places outdoors for watching ships. The Scheldeboulevard, stretching for kilometres, runs along the dike between the Western Scheldt and Terneuzen and is popular with walkers, cyclists and shipwatchers. The Schelde Informatie Punt is located at the West Pier; from here, you can watch ships from especially close by. Another option is the promenade on Kanaaleiland, where you can get a close-up view of ships on the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal.

If you come to Terneuzen via the lock complex, you will find two bridges at each lock, so you do not have to wait for a bridge to open. Check the situation before setting out. For further guidance, the Tourist Information Point sells walking and cycling route maps as well as city maps.

Museums with different areas of focus

Museum Schooltijd is located on Nieuwstraat in Terneuzen, in a listed former bank building. Ir. Mertens designed the building in 1919 in the Amsterdam School style. The museum displays old school materials and related objects. The architecture and collection offer different points of interest: the history of a distinctive building meets a look at school materials from the past.

In Sas van Gent, the Industrieel Museum Zeeland is housed in a monumental sugar warehouse. It presents impressive machinery and explores technological progress, safety, energy and logistics in an interactive way. By contrast, Museum ’t Vlasschuurken focuses on the history of flax processing, presented in the setting of a traditional Zeeuws-Vlaamse flax-dressing barn. Together, the museums cover everything from school history and architecture to industrial themes and flax processing.

Nature, water and activity

The Canisvliet nature area near Westdorpe covers 42 hectares. At the De Baeckermat visitor centre in Westdorpe, the focus is on how nature, the environment and agriculture are connected. The two offer different ways to explore the area: Canisvliet is a nature area with a clearly stated size, while De Baeckermat focuses on the relationship between the landscape and human activity.

Swimming, sailing, surfing, rowing, boat fishing, boating and canoeing are all possible at the Otheense Kreek. There is also the “Rondje Kreek” circular route for a recreational walk. At Vliegende Vaart, activities include swimming lessons, recreational swimming, lane swimming, aqua jogging and snorkelling. The activities differ considerably: the Otheense Kreek combines a range of water sports with a circular route, while Vliegende Vaart offers several types of swimming.

There is a year-round option for winter sports too: SnowWorld Terneuzen offers skiing and snowboarding on real snow at an indoor ski slope. The Parelroute “De vliegende Hollander” offers a very different kind of activity: participants answer questions and collect letters. The options range from sport on real snow and in the water to a route with puzzles.

Regional cuisine and recurring traditions

Zuiddorpe is a centre of Zeeuws-Vlaamse asparagus growing. In May and June, locally grown asparagus is served in the restaurants there. In Philippine, mussels take centre stage: the town is known for them, and during mussel season the restaurants serve fresh Zeeland mussels. The annual Mosselfeesten bring together mussels, music, markets and mussel-opening demonstrations.

The culinary experiences offer different highlights: in Zuiddorpe, asparagus growing and the months of May and June shape what is on offer; in Philippine, the mussel tradition comes together with restaurant cuisine and an annual festival. If you want to plan your trip around a seasonal dish, note the relevant time of year: May and June are the months specified for asparagus, while the Mosselfeesten take place annually, although their specific dates are not listed here.

Discover more places

Discover more destinations: Sas Van Gent, Sluiskil, Terneuzen, Biervliet, Hoek, Axel, Zaamslag, Westdorpe, Philippine, Koewacht.

For the overarching travel overview: Zeeland.