Frequently Asked Questions about Yerseke

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Where is Yerseke located?

Yerseke lies on the Oosterschelde in Zuid-Beveland, in the municipality of Reimerswaal in the province of Zeeland. The village is easily accessible via the A58 (Yerseke/Kruiningen exit).

Why is Yerseke famous?

Yerseke is world-famous for its oyster and mussel culture. It is the centre of the Dutch mussel trade and the birthplace of Zeeland oyster farming.

When is mussel season?

The Dutch mussel season runs roughly from July into spring. The opening of the season is a festive annual event in Yerseke.

Can you taste fresh oysters and mussels in Yerseke?

Yes. The village has many restaurants and tasting rooms where you can eat fresh Oosterschelde oysters, mussels and other shellfish, often with a view of the harbour.

How do I get to Yerseke without a car?

By train to Kruiningen-Yerseke station, from where a connecting bus runs to the village. By boat, Yerseke is accessible via the marina.

Is a visit to Yerseke free?

Walking through the village, the harbour and along the dikes is free. There is an entry or participation fee for the Oosterschelde Museum and for boat trips or excursions along the oyster pits.

When is oyster season?

The harvest season for oysters from Yerseke runs from September to April. No harvesting takes place outside that season.

What is the difference between a Zeeland flat oyster and a Japanese oyster?

The Zeeland flat oyster is sorted by hand; the Japanese oyster partly by machine. The Japanese oyster is less prone to disease and cheaper to farm, and has largely replaced the flat oyster after disease outbreaks.

What is depuration and why does it take a week?

Depuration is storing oysters in concrete oyster pits with fresh, constantly renewed seawater. This purifies the oysters and improves quality; the process takes about a week.

What is an oyster pit?

An oyster pit is a concrete basin where oysters are stored, depurated and sorted. Yerseke's first oyster pit was built in 1871 on the Breedsendijk.

How does the mussel auction in Yerseke work?

All mussels are first inspected by the Mosselkantoor (mussel office). A voluntary auction obligation applies, which all suppliers observe, and the price is set at the auction itself.

Can an imported mussel be called a Zeeland mussel?

Yes, if traders have stored the imported mussel in so-called wet warehouses in the Oosterschelde, it can be sold as a Zeeland mussel.

Why is Yerseke called the Zeeland Klondike?

After 1870, oyster farming made Yerseke grow so fast and rich that it earned the nickname "the Zeeland Klondike", after the Canadian gold-rush town.

Why did Yerseke residents emigrate to America?

From 1885, oyster farming in Yerseke started to struggle. Many Yerseke residents therefore emigrated to the United States, especially to West Sayville (New York), where oysters were also farmed.

How big is Oosterschelde National Park?

Oosterschelde National Park covers roughly 370 km², making it the largest national park in the Netherlands. It has existed since 8 May 2002.

Can you see seals near Yerseke?

Yes, seals and harbour porpoises are seen with some regularity in Oosterschelde National Park.

What is sand hunger?

Sand hunger is the slow erosion of the sandbanks in the Oosterschelde. Since the Oosterscheldekering weakened the current in 1986, sand settles in the old channels without new sand being deposited on the banks.

Why was the Oosterscheldekering built open?

An open, movable barrier was chosen instead of a full closure, so the tide would largely be preserved. That tide is crucial for Yerseke's shellfish farming.

What is darinkdelven?

Darinkdelven is the digging up of darink, salty peat, to extract salt from it. Yerseke farmers were already doing this in the Middle Ages, in the area now called the Yerseke Moer.

What is the Yerseke Moer?

The Yerseke Moer is a wet-meadow and Natura 2000 area that was formed by centuries of darinkdelven.

When is Mussel Day?

Mussel Day (Mosseldag) is held annually on the third Saturday of August.

When is the Oyster Festival?

The Oyster Festival takes place annually on the third or fourth weekend of September.

What is the Mussel Race?

The Mussel Race (Mosselrace) is a sailing race on the Oosterschelde, held annually on the second Saturday of August.

When is the weekly market in Yerseke?

The weekly market runs every Friday morning from 8:30am to 12:30pm in the centre of Yerseke.

What can you do in Yerseke when it rains?

The Oosterscheldemuseum, housed in the former town hall, and the Oesterij, an information centre about oysters and mussels, are indoor attractions for a rainy day.

Is Yerseke suitable for children?

Yerseke offers free outdoor activities such as walking along the harbour and dikes, and the Oosterschelde Museum. Specific facilities for children are not documented in our sources; check with individual venues in advance.