Sint-Annaland, Bruinisse, Sint Philipsland

It is now hardly imaginable anymore, but until the 7th century after Christ it was the Belgian river the Schelde that flowed into what we now know as the Oosterschelde. This was until the Middle Ages no more than a relatively narrow river arm. Through erosion of the land and the continual influence of storm surges from the North Sea the Oosterschelde slowly but surely became wider and more powerful.

Humans however did not allow themselves to be displaced without a fight. To protect villages and hamlets dikes were constructed and polders were impoldered. For a long time this proved sufficient to bring the advancing sea to a halt.

Yet the North Sea has always had a major influence on the lives of the people of Zeeland. The flood disaster of 1953 formed the turning point. This disaster led to the construction of the Delta Works, intended to largely close off the North Sea from the inland waters. Only during heavy storms do the storm surge barriers close; the tidal effect has therefore been preserved to a limited degree.

The Krammer, in the northernmost part of the Oosterschelde, and the Krabbenkreek are connected to each other via the Zijpe. These waters form part of a busy shipping route between Rotterdam, Terneuzen and Ghent.

An absolute recommendation is the 33 metre high lookout tower in the middle of the Krammer, on the Philipsdam. This dam forms the separation between the fresh water of the Volkerak and the salt water of the Oosterschelde. The Grevelingendam also forms part of this ingenious hydraulic engineering system.