Terneuzen: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Terneuzen combines maritime impressions, industrial heritage, historical traces and landscapes along the water. Along the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal, visitors encounter ships and locks, while museums in former functional buildings, nature areas and regional specialities reveal further facets of the local area.

Culture and History

The Schooltijd Museum 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 presents old school materials and related objects. This brings architecture and exhibits on the history of education together in one place.

Industrial history can be seen at the Industrieel Museum Zeeland in Sas van Gent. The museum is housed in a monumental sugar warehouse. There, impressive machinery as well as technological progress, safety, energy and logistics are presented interactively. Museum ’t Vlasschuurken focuses on a different historical theme: it conveys the history of flax processing in the setting of a traditional Zeeuws-Vlaamse zwingelstal.

Historical traces can also be found outside the museum buildings. Around Koewacht, there are remains of forts that formed part of the Staats-Spaanse Linies. The annual Mosselfeesten in Philippine, on the other hand, combine regional culinary culture with music, markets and demonstrations of mussel opening.

Ships, Locks and the Canal

The Portaal van Vlaanderen offers a maritime visitor experience along the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal. Visitors learn about ships and locks and can take on the role of a captain. A guided tour of the Nieuwe Sluis also includes a visit to the 18-metre-deep bridge basement.

The approach to Terneuzen through the lock complex also has a clearly described structural feature: each lock has two bridges, so you never have to wait for a bridge to open. The theme continues by the water. The waterside promenade on Kanaaleiland is a special place to see ships on the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal from close by.

The Scheldeboulevard, which stretches for kilometres, lies on the dike between the Western Scheldt and Terneuzen. It is used by walkers, cyclists and ship watchers. The Schelde Informatie Punt is located at the Westpier, offering particularly close views of ships. This makes both the course of the dike and shipping central features of the Scheldeboulevard.

Nature, Water and Activities

The Canisvliet nature area near Westdorpe covers 42 hectares. The De Baeckermat visitor centre in Westdorpe shows how nature, the environment and agriculture are interconnected. The landscape is therefore not presented separately from its use, but as an interaction between these three areas.

Numerous activities are possible at the Otheense Kreek: swimming, sailing, surfing, rowing, boat fishing, boating and canoeing. There is also the “Rondje Kreek” circular route for a recreational walk. At the Vliegende Vaart, swimming lessons, recreational swimming, lane swimming, aqua jogging and snorkelling are offered.

Another activity combines exercise with questions and discovery: on the “De vliegende Hollander” Parelroute, participants answer questions and collect letters. SnowWorld Terneuzen provides a completely different sporting setting, with year-round skiing and snowboarding on real snow on an indoor ski slope.

Regional Cuisine

Zuiddorpe is a centre of Zeeuws-Vlaamse asparagus cultivation. In May and June, locally grown asparagus is served in the restaurants there. Philippine is known for its mussels; during the mussel season, restaurants serve fresh Zeeland mussels. During the annual Mosselfeesten, this theme is expanded to include music, markets and demonstrations of mussel opening.

Practical Information on Site

The Tourist Information Point sells walking and cycling route maps as well as town plans. The maps and plans therefore complement the described paths, bodies of water, museums and viewpoints as practical information resources for exploration.

Other places in this destination include: Sas van Gent, Sluiskil, Terneuzen, Biervliet, Hoek, Axel, Zaamslag, Westdorpe, Philippine, Koewacht.

For the overarching travel overview: Zeeland.