Terra Maris

Terra Maris is a museum of nature and landscape in Oostkapelle, a village on the island of Walcheren in Zeeland. The name is Latin for land of the sea, and it sums up the theme: the long and uneasy relationship between the people of Zeeland and the water around them. The museum is housed in buildings that belong to Westhove Castle, a country house surrounded by woodland, and it forms part of a wider estate that includes gardens and walking routes.

Zeeland is a province that has been made and remade by the sea. For centuries, storm surges swallowed farmland and villages, and the people responded with dykes, sluices and polders. The disaster of 1953, when a great storm tide flooded much of the south-west, led to the Delta Works, one of the largest engineering projects in the world. A museum about the Zeeland landscape therefore has a lot to explain, from the geology of the dunes and salt marshes to the plants and animals that live in the brackish water.

Inside, the displays introduce local habitats and wildlife, including the dunes, the sea, tidal flats and farmland, and they use models, photographs and interactive exhibits to bring them to life. A garden outside shows typical plants of the region, which makes it easy to compare what is on display indoors with the real thing. The mood of the museum is educational but relaxed, and it works well for families with children who like to touch, look and ask questions.

The surroundings add to the visit. The dunes of Oostkapelle are among the most beautiful on the Zeeland coast, with paths through wooded dune valleys and broad views from the ridges. The beach is a short way off, and the nearby village has cafes and shops. Domburg, a seaside resort, lies close to the north-west, and the old mill and other sights of the village are worth a look. Cycling is the best way to see the area, since routes link the dunes, the villages and the beaches.

The museum suits families, nature lovers and anyone curious about how Zeeland came to be the way it is. A visit takes a couple of hours, longer with a walk in the dunes or the castle grounds. Check the opening times before travelling, as seasonal arrangements apply.