Guide · Zeeland · All year
In Zeeland, seals often lie just a few hundred metres from the dyke. You don’t even need a boat: with binoculars and the right tide you can see them from a lookout tower, a sluice or a beach path. This guide lists every viewing spot, from Schouwen-Duiveland to Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, plus the harbours where seal-watching trips leave.
Short answer: the best spots from the shore are the Plompe Toren near Burgh-Haamstede (overlooking the Roggenplaat sandbank), the Brouwerspuisluis on the Brouwersdam, and the dyke at Nummer Eén near Breskens (overlooking the Hooge Platen). Go between two hours before and two hours after low tide. Prefer a boat? Seal-watching trips leave from Burghsluis, Zierikzee, Bruinisse, Sint-Annaland, Yerseke, Cadzand and Breskens, among others.
Seeing seals from the shore
| Spot | What you look at | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Plompe Toren, Koudekerke (Burgh-Haamstede) | The Roggenplaat sandbank in the Oosterschelde | Climb the tower and look at low tide; free parking on the Koudekerkseweg |
| Brouwerspuisluis, Brouwersdam (Ouddorp) | Seals swimming past the sluice | On the sea side; seals pass almost daily, mostly grey seals |
| Verklikkerstrand, Nieuw-Haamstede | Sandbanks off the coast | Park at Transferium Renesse and take the shuttle bus to the beach path |
| Beach path Jan van Renesseweg, Renesse | Sandbanks off the beach | Go at low tide and bring binoculars |
| Harbours of Burghsluis and Zierikzee | Seals and porpoises in the Oosterschelde | Patience needed; Zierikzee also has a listening post for porpoises |
| Neeltje Jans | Seals along the North Sea coast and the storm surge barrier | With luck a seal rests in the harbour |
| Dyke at Nummer Eén and lookout near Hoofdplaat | The Hooge Platen in the Westerschelde | By far the most seals in the Westerschelde, sometimes more than a hundred |
| Coast of Noord-Beveland, Wemeldinge and Tholen | Oosterschelde | Less known and quieter; chance of seals and porpoises |
Along the coast between Cadzand and Breskens you sometimes see single seals in the water, and very occasionally one on the beach. For better odds, head to the Hooge Platen or the Plompe Toren.
Seal-watching trips
A boat takes you closer to the sandbanks, and the skipper knows where the seals rest after hunting. Most trips sail around low tide.
| Departure | Water | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Burghsluis | Oosterschelde | Nature cruises of about 2.5 hours and shorter family trips, past sandbanks with harbour and grey seals |
| Zierikzee | Oosterschelde | Seal safaris from the old harbour |
| Bruinisse, Sint-Annaland, Scherpenisse, Yerseke | Oosterschelde | Seal safaris also leave from here |
| Neeltje Jans | Oosterschelde | Boat trip from the park; from October to April it may be cancelled due to storms |
| Brouwersdam | Grevelingen | RIB safari in a smaller, fast boat |
| Cadzand (marina) | Westerschelde and North Sea | Seal-watching trip, bookable in advance |
| Breskens | Westerschelde | Trip of about 90 minutes; the operator says nine out of ten trips see seals |
Departure times and prices change with the season and depend on the tide, so always check the operator’s website. Fewer boats sail in winter.
The sandbanks where seals rest
| Roggenplaat | Western Oosterschelde, clearly visible from the Plompe Toren |
| Galgenplaat | Eastern Oosterschelde, east of the Zeelandbrug; mainly by boat |
| Hooge Platen | Westerschelde between Breskens and Hoofdplaat, the largest haul-out in the Westerschelde |
| Voordelta | Off the coast of Schouwen and Goeree; most of Zeeland’s seals live here |
When are your chances best?
| Tide | From two hours before to two hours after low tide. Seals hunt at high tide and haul out on the sandbanks as the water drops |
| Season | All year. Most boats sail in summer; in winter you have the viewing spots almost to yourself |
| Pups | Harbour seals in June and July, grey seals mainly in December and January |
| Weather | Calm weather is best: you may also spot the dorsal fin of a porpoise |
Check the tide times for your chosen spot before you set off. Low tide in Zeeland can easily differ by an hour from place to place.
Porpoises too
A few dozen harbour porpoises, the smallest cetacean of the North Sea, live in the Oosterschelde, and they give birth there in spring. The best shore spot is the harbour head in Zierikzee, which has a listening post where you can hear their underwater clicks. They are also seen regularly from the harbours of Colijnsplaat and Burghsluis and along the coast by the Plompe Toren.
How to watch without disturbing
- Seals are protected. Disturbing, chasing or approaching them is not allowed.
- On your own boat, keep at least 100 metres away and stay quiet. Don’t paddle a kayak or SUP to the sandbanks.
- Keep your dog on a lead, on the beach and on the dyke.
- A seal on the beach is usually just resting. Don’t push it back into the water and keep your distance. If in doubt, call a seal rescue centre.
What to bring
Binoculars are essential: the sandbanks are often a few hundred metres to more than a kilometre offshore. A telescope or a camera with a long zoom makes it even better. Bring windproof clothing, even in summer: on the dyke and on the water it is always windier than you expect.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about seals in Zeeland
Where can you see the most seals in Zeeland?
On the sandbanks in the Oosterschelde, such as the Roggenplaat, and on the Hooge Platen in the Westerschelde near Breskens. Most of Zeeland’s seals live in the Voordelta, off the coast.
Can you see seals without a boat?
Yes. From the Plompe Toren near Burgh-Haamstede, the Brouwerspuisluis on the Brouwersdam, the beach paths at Renesse and Nieuw-Haamstede and the dyke at Nummer Eén near Breskens. Bring binoculars and go around low tide.
Where do seal-watching trips leave in Zeeland?
On the Oosterschelde from Burghsluis, Zierikzee, Bruinisse, Sint-Annaland, Scherpenisse, Yerseke and Neeltje Jans, among others. On the Westerschelde from Breskens and Cadzand, and on the Grevelingen from the Brouwersdam.
When is the best time to see seals in Zeeland?
From two hours before to two hours after low tide, when the sandbanks fall dry. You can see seals all year; grey seal pups are born in December and January, harbour seal pups in June and July.
Can you see porpoises in Zeeland?
Yes, a few dozen harbour porpoises live in the Oosterschelde. Your best chance is in calm weather from the harbour head in Zierikzee, the harbour of Colijnsplaat or the harbour of Burghsluis.
Read our guide seal spotting in the Netherlands for the Wadden Sea and the difference between the harbour seal and the grey seal.
Habitat · The Netherlands
