Discover Ossendrecht: Dunes, Polder Landscape and Culture

Ossendrecht combines nature and culture: the Ossendrechtse Duinen are recognised as a nature reserve. The surrounding area also includes the Noordpolder and the Abdijbossen; Ossendrecht is also home to museums and regional farm products.

Holiday Apartment in Ossendrecht: Dunes, Polders and Birdlife

The Ossendrechtse Duinen near Ossendrecht and Putte provide a habitat for nightjars, woodlarks, stonechats and tiger beetles. There is an elevation difference of around 30 metres between the Abdijbossen and the adjacent Noordpolder van Ossendrecht. From the Brabantse Wal at the foot of the Noordpolder, you can enjoy a view across the unique polder landscape. The Volksabdij near the Abdijbossen is one of the nature gateways to Brabant, the Brabantse Wal and the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. Among others, jays, great tits, blue tits and robins breed in the Abdijbossen.

Hiking Trails Between Heathland and Polder

There are two signposted trails in the Ossendrechtse Duinen for days of hiking: the Haas hiking trail and the Mier hiking trail. The Haas hiking trail passes through the habitat of smooth snakes and nightjars. One starting point for the Haas hiking route is located at the Café Puts Meuleke car park in the Ossendrechtse Duinen. The approximately 30-minute Abdij hiking trail leads around the Volksabdij through impressive park woodland and partly through heathland.

You can also explore the Noordpolder van Ossendrecht on foot: the trail passes old ditches, fields and pollard willows. The ditch pattern is preserved because of its cultural and historical value. The Brabantse Wal hiking route is 5.6 km long and starts at the Groene Halte Postbaan in Ossendrecht. This Groene Halte can be reached from Roosendaal railway station by bus towards Bergen op Zoom; get off at the Postbaan stop. On the Zoomroute, you leave the escarpment of the Brabantse Wal near Ossendrecht.

Culture and History in the Village

In Ossendrecht, culture can be combined with the history of the village. Museum Den Aanwas is housed in a Rijksmonument dating from 1743, the residence of a former large-scale farmer. The museum tells the story of life against the historical background of life in southwestern Brabant at that time and offers an approximately one-hour audio tour through the village of Ossendrecht. Museum Den Aanwas is open to visitors on Sundays from 13:30 to 16:30, from 5 April through 25 October 2026 inclusive.

The Oorlogsmuseum Ossendrecht houses a special collection of objects from the Second World War and is a private museum founded by Jan de Jonge. It can offer a so-called Battle Tour, visiting monuments and battlefields in the area around the museum, as well as sites associated with the Battle of Antwerp and the Scheldt.

Another distinctive building is the St. Gertrudis Church. It was built in 1897 in the Gothic Revival style, based on a design by the architect P. van Genk; its exterior has a monumental design. The Landwinkel Hoeve Melsen in Ossendrecht offers dairy products from local farmers and traditionally produced farmhouse cheese.

Other Places in the Surrounding Area

For more ideas of places to visit, you can explore Hoogerheide, Woensdrecht and Huijbergen.

Return to the higher-level travel overview: Woensdrecht.