Philippine combines seasonal mussel cuisine with traces of its fortified past and paths through the polder landscape. This gives you a choice of different focuses for your trip: regional cuisine, local history or outdoor activities.
Mussel Season and Regional Cuisine
Mussel season runs from spring to late summer. During this time, restaurants in Philippine serve fresh Zeeland mussels every day, prepared according to a centuries-old family recipe. Exact serving dates may change; if you are planning your trip specifically around mussel season, check them in advance.
The mussel restaurants in town serve around half a million kilograms of mussels each year; the amount may vary. Philippine also selects a mussel wine every year. You can try the selected wine at any mussel restaurant in Philippine. Participating restaurants may change, so it is best to check which ones are taking part before your visit.
Polder Landscape and Circular Walk
The Ommetje Philippine circular walk passes through the polder landscape, over dikes and by former harbors west of Philippine. Typical plants such as agrimony, wild marjoram and field scabious grow on the flower-rich dike slopes. The mix of species may vary depending on the season. Butterflies and grasshoppers can also be found there; sightings depend on the season.
The circular walk also includes two World War II bunkers on Olmendijk, including a so-called Tobruk bunker. The polder landscape and tangible traces of wartime history can thus be found side by side on the same route. Check locally whether and how the bunkers can be accessed.
Fortress History and Stone Bears
Philippine is an old fortified town. Remains of Spanish- and Dutch-style fortifications from the Eighty Years’ War have survived. The eastern stone bear on Philippineweg was restored in 2012 and can be seen from the road. An information board provides explanations and several architectural drawings.
The western stone bear is part of the Philippine fortress, but has different visiting conditions: it is open to visitors for one day a year during Open Monumentendag. If you would like to see it, plan your visit around the event and check its date in advance; the access arrangements may change from year to year.
Church and Architecture
The Maria Hemelvaartkerk is a domed church built in 1953–1954 in a traditionalist style with Byzantine and classical elements. The design by Siebers and Van Dael is of architectural-historical value due to its high aesthetic quality. The building and its furnishings are also exceptionally well preserved and complete, making the church a notable building to visit.
Traces of the Mussel Trade
The “Philippine, stad van de mossel” cycling route takes you back to a time when mussel boats came and went and Philippine played an important role in the mussel trade. It offers a historical perspective on the mussel tradition that continues to shape local cuisine today.
Spuikompark recalls a former flushing basin. The water stored there was used at low tide to flush silt and sand from Philippine’s harbor and channel. The Mosselmonument adds a specific date to the town’s history: J.C. van Driel created the monument, which was unveiled on July 6, 1988.
Discover more destinations: Zaamslag, Hoek, Terneuzen, Sluiskil, Axel, Westdorpe, Biervliet, Koewacht
Go to the main travel overview: Terneuzen.
