Oosterschelde
Coordinates: 51 ° 39 ′ 0 ″ N , 3 ° 48 ′ 0 ″ E
The Oosterschelde estuary is located in the delta of the Rhine , Maas and Schelde estuaries in the Dutch province of Zeeland . The course of the Scheldt was changed by medieval storm surges in such a way that it flows through the Westerschelde into the North Sea today . The Oosterschelde lies between the islands and peninsulas of Schouwen-Duiveland and Tholen in the north and Noord-Beveland and Zuid-Beveland in the south.
Flood protection
After the great Holland storm flood of 1953 , extensive dykes and storm surge barriers were built as part of the Delta Works . The Oosterschelde is since around dikes . The water of the North Sea floods in the course of the tides through the Oosterschelde storm surge barrier , which is considered a technical wonder of the world and in an emergency can cut off the entire Oosterschelde from the sea. The tide reaches about three meters.
National park
Since May 8, 2002, the entire Oosterschelde has been a national park . With an area of around 340 square kilometers, it is the largest national park in the European part of the Netherlands.
Bridges and canals
The longest bridge in the Netherlands, the Zeelandbrug, runs through the Oosterschelde from Zierikzee to North Beveland . The canal through Zuid-Beveland is one of two waterways to the Westerschelde and the Antwerp port.
Finds
The Maritime Museum is located in Gravensteen in Zierikzee. Using ship models, paintings and a model, it paints a picture of the maritime past from the early Middle Ages to the present day. You can also see objects that come from the Oosterschelde and from ancient times. A small exhibition is dedicated to the local goddess Nehalennia . Five votive altars from the beginning of our era are on display, which were fished from the Oosterschelde in 1970. The model of a temple dedicated to Nehalennia can also be seen. On the second floor there are fossil bones on display that came to light in the mussel fishermen's nets. A long time ago there were mammoths, hyenas and red deer in Zeeland.
