The museum is built on the exact location where the seawall was breached by Allied forces in October 1944.
The flooding of Walcheren was a strategic operation intended to neutralize German artillery batteries covering the Western Scheldt.
The lighthouse located in Westkapelle is a former church tower converted into a beacon after the church burned down in 1831.
The museum building is a modern reconstruction designed to resemble the historical Polderhuis, the former administrative office for the dike maintenance.
A Sherman tank is displayed on the site, recovered from the local waters as a tribute to the landing operations.
The museum grounds include an 'Ingenieursmonument' dedicated to the workers who maintained the dike defenses over centuries.
Polderhuis Westkapelle documents the history of the Allied bombardment of Westkapelle during the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944. The site features a museum detailing the flooding of Walcheren island, which occurred after Royal Air Force bombers breached the seawall. A prominent lookout tower allows visitors to observe the reconstructed dike and the surrounding coastal landscape. The museum exhibitions include personal stories, military artifacts, and photographic evidence of the village's near-total destruction. It serves as a regional history center focusing on the intersection of human engineering and wartime conflict. The facility is situated directly behind the sea wall that protects the village from the North Sea.
The top observation deck of the lookout tower facing the North Sea.
Combine your visit with a walk along the sea wall, which offers a clear perspective on the area's geography.
Check the outdoor exhibits, including the memorial statues, before entering the main building.
The lookout tower provides the best vantage point for photographers interested in capturing the Dutch coastline.
Do not attempt to walk on the protected grass sections of the seawall; stick to designated paths.
Closed on Mondays during the winter season.
