Westkappelse Zeedijk, Sea wall in Westkapelle, Netherlands.
Westkappelse Zeedijk is a sea wall on the western side of Walcheren that stretches for kilometers along the coast and protects the land from North Sea waves. The massive embankment was built from earth and stone and features different sections with varying heights and structures.
The first protective structures were built from the 15th century onward, as people realized they needed better protection for their homes. Over the centuries, the dike was repeatedly reinforced and renewed to withstand stronger storms and flooding.
The nearby Polderhuis museum shows how people here have learned to live with water for generations and what techniques they developed to protect themselves. Visitors see old tools and pictures that reveal what life on the dike looked like in earlier times.
The dike is easy to reach on foot or by bicycle, with parking in Westkapelle and several entry points along the route. The path is generally flat and well-paved, making it easy to walk for most visitors.
The dike has observation platforms where visitors can watch migratory birds that rest and feed in the nearby Noordervroon nature reserve. This makes the location particularly interesting for bird watchers during spring and fall.
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