Activity Snapshot
Plompe Toren
Koudekerkseweg 12, 4328 NP Burgh-Haamstede
My review 5 out of 5 stars
Price / tickets
Website
Accessibility
Activity type
Parking
Plompe Toren Koudekerke is one of the most powerful and historic landmarks on the coast of Zeeland. Located at Koudekerkseweg 12, 4328 NP Burgh-Haamstede, at coordinates 51°41’0″N, 3°46’31″E, this 23 meter high tower stands alone in the open landscape along the Oosterschelde. Parking is easy and free, right next to the tower. Entry is free, and the tower is open daily, usually from 09:00 to 18:00 in summer time and until 17:00 in winter time.
After checking out from the Grand Hotel in Burgh-Haamstede, following a small discussion with the reception team, we decided to explore something local instead of heading home immediately. Plompe Toren Koudekerke turned out to be the perfect spontaneous stop.
Arrival and First Impression
We parked the car between the white license plates, typical during vacation season, and walked toward the tower. The landscape around Plompe Toren Koudekerke is wide, open, and slightly dramatic. Wind moves freely across the fields and dikes, and you instantly feel how exposed this place once was to the sea.
Inside the tower, you enter a small hall where you can listen to the story of the drowned village. I stayed downstairs. Narrow spiral staircases that only allow one person at a time are not my thing. Even as a child I found them intense. My girlfriend went up instead and collected the photos for this blog with my Canon EOS 70D.
Climbing Plompe Toren Koudekerke
The climb inside Plompe Toren Koudekerke is compact and steep. Along the way you pass small exhibition elements about the history of the region and local birdlife. It feels like a mini expedition.
At the very top, on the open platform, you find a viewing area and even a binocular viewer. From here you overlook the Oosterschelde, the Koudekersche Inlaag, and the surrounding salt marshes. My girlfriend especially loved the view. On windy days, you stand fully exposed. High up, you feel the wind strongly. That is both impressive and intense.
Location, Access and Practical Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Plompe Toren Koudekerke |
| Address | Koudekerkseweg 12, 4328 NP Burgh-Haamstede |
| Coordinates | 51°41’0″N, 3°46’31″E |
| Height | 23 meters |
| Price | Free entry |
| Parking | Free, directly next to the tower |
| Accessibility | Narrow spiral stairs, not suitable for everyone |
Pros and Cons of Plompe Toren Koudekerke
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free entry | Narrow spiral staircase |
| Unique history | Windy at the top |
| Birdwatching opportunities | Not wheelchair accessible |
| Iconic Zeeland landmark | Limited indoor space |
| Beautiful open views | Can feel exposed in bad weather |
The History of Plompe Toren Koudekerke
Plompe Toren Koudekerke is the only remaining structure of the drowned village of Koudekerke on Schouwen-Duiveland. The original village developed around a church. In 1468, Lodewijk van Gruuthuse purchased the area and had a new church built.
Around 1550, the Oosterschelde began moving northward, slowly eroding land. By 1583, the church itself was dismantled, but the tower remained standing. It served as a navigation beacon for ships sailing toward Antwerp.
Between 1475 and 1650, at least fifteen villages along the south coast of Schouwen disappeared due to flooding, land subsidence, peat cutting, and storm surges. Eventually, before 1700, Koudekerke was fully swallowed by the sea.
Plompe Toren Koudekerke survived because of its strategic function as a beacon. Later, it underwent restorations in 1935, 1962, and again in 1974. Since 1997, it has been managed by Natuurmonumenten and transformed into a cultural and educational attraction.
The Legend of the Mermaid
The story of Plompe Toren Koudekerke is closely linked to the legend of the mermaid of Westenschouwen. According to local belief, fishermen once captured a mermaid in their nets. Her husband, the merman, begged for her release. When she died, he cursed the village.
The curse allegedly led to the destruction and decline of Westenschouwen and later Koudekerke. The famous line says that everything would disappear, except the tower.
Many people still refer to this legend when speaking about Plompe Toren Koudekerke. Historically, the decline can be explained by silting harbors, shifting sea channels, and coastal erosion, but folklore keeps the story alive.
Birds and Wildlife Around Plompe Toren Koudekerke
Plompe Toren Koudekerke is also a birdwatching hotspot. The surrounding inlagen and tidal flats attract many species throughout the year.
| Species | How to Spot | Season | Rarity in Zeeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oystercatcher | Shoreline, loud calls | Year round | Common |
| Brent Goose | Salt marsh fields | Winter | Common seasonal |
| Barnacle Goose | Grasslands | Winter | Common seasonal |
| Avocet | Shallow water | Spring | Regular breeder |
| Redshank | Mudflats | Spring | Fairly common |
| Grey Seal | Sandbanks | Year round | Regular sighting |
Using the binocular viewer on top of Plompe Toren Koudekerke increases your chances, especially during low tide when birds gather on exposed mudflats.
Cultural and Physical Characteristics
Plompe Toren Koudekerke stands 23 meters tall and is built of brick. It sits just inside the dike, embedded in the slope. Around the base, the dike has been shaped to fit the tower. The tower stands completely alone in the landscape, which makes it visually powerful.
It is a symbol of Zeeland’s battle against water, resilience, and adaptation.
Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel Ter Duin review time. This Grand Hotel Ter Duin review is about our very first Valentine’s Day together as a couple, and how I surprised my girlfriend with two nights in this hotel in Burgh Haamstede.
The Function of the Tower
Originally part of a church, Plompe Toren Koudekerke later became a maritime navigation point. Today, it functions as:
- Cultural monument
- Historical information center
- Birdwatching viewpoint
- Tourist landmark
Plompe Toren Koudekerke is no longer just a relic. It is an active storytelling structure in the Zeeland landscape.
Final experience & word
Plompe Toren Koudekerke combines history, folklore, nature, and raw coastal atmosphere in one compact but powerful location. If you are exploring Burgh-Haamstede, it is a serious and worthwhile stop.
