National Park De Oosterschelde

Patrick Kranenbroek · Issue 148, Jan/Feb 2026 · pp. 47–50

Products mentioned: Olympus E-M5 MKII, Nauticam Housing, 8mm F1.8 lens, 30mm macro lens, Sea and Sea YS 3D Duo strobes

In the province of Zeeland, in the southwest of the Netherlands, lies National Park De Oosterschelde. The Oosterschelde is a popular diving area, but it has a turbulent history. In 1953, a large part of Zeeland was flooded during the North Sea flood disaster. Many people lost their homes and some villages almost completely disappeared. After the disaster, the Netherlands built the Delta Works, a system of dams and storm surge barriers, to protect the area from the sea. The storm surge barrier in the Oosterschelde was constructed so that the ebb and flow of the tides would be preserved, but it can be completely closed during expected storms. Thanks to these measures, the Oosterschelde remains a unique area, where tides still flow freely and rich underwater life can be observed. For divers, it is a place full of adventure, history, and stunning underwater life. I am a diver and underwater …