Four tidal basins
Curious about all the marine life in the Oosterschelde? At the tidal pools in Wemeldinge, you can explore the underwater world up close. As soon as the water recedes, small pools remain where you can admire crabs, shrimp, anemones, and all kinds of seaweed. A visit to the tidal pools is fun for all ages and offers a unique way to experience the nature of the Oosterschelde.
The four tidal pools are located near the beaches of Wemeldinge, at the foot of the dike. Two are on the west side of the main beach near Club Casco, and two are on the east side, near the smaller beach at Camping Linda. This makes it easy to combine a visit with a walk along the dike, an afternoon at the beach, or a visit to the charming village of Wemeldinge.
What are tidal pools?
Tidal pools are shallow basins that fill with seawater at high tide. As soon as the tide goes out, the water remains in the pools. This provides a natural glimpse into the underwater world of the Oosterschelde. Here, you can get a close-up view of what normally remains hidden beneath the water’s surface.
What animals and plants can you discover?
Every time the water recedes, there’s something new to discover. Among the rocks and seaweed, all kinds of plants and animals live that have adapted to the rhythm of the tides.
Among other things, you might come across:
• Barnacles: These are small crustaceans that attach themselves with their shells to anything hard. At low tide, they close their shells so they don’t dry out.
• Various types of seaweed: The different types of seaweed have the most beautiful names, such as sawtooth sea oak, slimy dragon’s tongue, and Irish moss. Sea lettuce has slippery leaves that you can eat. And there are seaweeds with air bubbles, such as club seaweed and bladderwrack.
• Shrimp: The shrimp from the Oosterschelde are usually grayish and translucent. Shrimp can burrow quickly and keep their little eyes just above the sand.
• Anemones: Anemones look beautiful underwater! Species found in the Oosterschelde include the horse anemone, sea dahlia, and sea carnation.
• Crabs: You’ll find various species of crabs in the Oosterschelde, such as the shore crab and the brush crab.
• Whelks: Whelks are small sea snails. Here in Zeeland, they’re also called “kreukels” or “krukels.”
• Fish: There are also small fish swimming in the tidal pool. Black gobies, for example, which often lie on the rocks underwater “sunbathing.”
• Oysters: The Oosterschelde is full of Japanese oysters! Just watch out for the sharp edges.
• Whelks: During the day, the whelk clings firmly to a rock, but in the evening, it sets off on its adventures. After its adventures, the whelk returns to exactly the same spot.
Take a good look around, because every tidal pool is different. It makes every visit a little journey of discovery.
When can you visit the tidal pools?
The tidal pools are best viewed at low tide. That’s when they are exposed, and there’s still enough water left to get a good look at marine life. Check the current tide times in advance on Waterinfo Rijkswaterstaat so your visit coincides with low tide.
Practical Tips
It’s best to wear water shoes; the rocks and oysters can be sharp. You may want to bring a small net or bucket to get a closer look at marine life, but always carefully return the animals to the water afterward. This helps preserve nature so that everyone can continue to enjoy it.
Parking is available at the beaches in Wemeldinge. From both parking areas, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the tidal pools.
It’s precisely because you can see everything up close that you get a good sense of life in the Oosterschelde. That makes the tidal pools fun for children, but also for adults who are curious about the marine life along the coast.
