The area around the Zandkreek sluices is an important place for breeding and foraging birds. The sluices are located between the Oosterschelde and the Veerse Meer.
Due to the combination of drying sandbanks, sheltered groins, and quiet dikes, the area is favored by, among others, terns and oystercatchers. At the same time, renovation work is being carried out at the Zandkreek sluices.
At 2 locations, the area is temporarily closed to cyclists and walkers. At the southern groin, terns are breeding from May to August 2025. In collaboration with the National Park Oosterschelde , it has been decided to close this part from April to the end of August 2025 to give the birds as much peace as possible.
Disturbed Resting Place Zandkreeksluizen
The northern groin at the Zandkreeksluizen serves as a high water refuge for birds when the drying mudflats at the sluice are not available during high tide. However, due to the work at the Zandkreeksluizen, there is more activity along the groin, disturbing the resting place for foraging birds, such as oystercatchers, too much.
For this reason, Rijkswaterstaat and Water Board Scheldestromen have decided to temporarily close the area along the dike at the Eerste Deltaweg to provide the birds with an alternative resting place. The path along this area, normally used by cyclists and walkers, will remain closed until the work at the Zandkreeksluizen is completed.
With these measures, a good balance is ensured between nature and the necessary work on the sluice, so that both the birds and the work have the space they need. The viewpoint at Kats remains open for visitors.