Perched on the north-west coast of Walcheren, Oostkapelle is a peaceful seaside village named after a historic chapel. It’s fringed by a windswept beach and home to a moated castle that’s home to a natural history museum.
Enjoy a stroll along Oostkapelle’s wild stretch of sand, which has been voted the “Cleanest Beach in the Netherlands” on numerous occasions. It’s backed by rolling dunes and several restaurants where you can have lunch or grab a drink as the sun sets over the North Sea.
Partway between Oostkapelle and neighbouring Domburg is the Kasteel Westhoeve, a moated medieval castle visited by some of the most powerful people in European history. Its 18th-century orangery is now occupied by Terra Maris, an excellent museum that explores the region’s natural landscapes and wildlife. Get up close to North Sea marine life and models of 11th-century farms, then wander through the 2.5-hectare landscaped gardens.
Getting there
Oostkapelle is a 15-minute drive from Middelburg and 1.5 hours from Rotterdam The Hague Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses are the main means of getting to Oostkapelle and travelling through the village.