Herkingen lies directly on the Grevelingenmeer. The village offers several different ways to plan your stay: water and guest berths, viewpoints for nature watching, and traces of local history. There is also a distinctive walking route and a regional tea garden. What you can combine depends on whether you would rather spend time outdoors, visit historic buildings, or plan time by the water.

Nature and viewpoints

At Natuurgebied Paardengat, you can watch wading birds and waterbirds. The viewpoint is also suitable as a rest stop during a cycling or walking tour. There is an important access restriction to note: Paardengat Creek itself is not accessible. You can view the area from the viewpoint, and parking is available along the road. Check the local signs before your visit.

From Herkingen, you can reach the Slikken van Flakkee on foot. Wildarena Zuid, a viewpoint overlooking the Slikken, is also located there. At a watering hole, visitors can watch Fjord horses, Heck cattle and Scottish Highland cattle; dozens of species of waterbirds can also be spotted there. The two nature spots offer different experiences: Paardengat combines birdwatching with a possible rest stop on a cycling or walking tour, while Wildarena Zuid focuses on animals at the watering hole and on waterbirds.

For a broader landscape perspective, it is worth looking at Goeree-Overflakkee: from the 3rd century AD onward, a network of creeks developed there, comprising 38 creeks. This regional history adds a wider context to the impressions gained at individual viewpoints.

Buildings and local history

The Visbank is listed as a Rijksmonument and dates from the 17th century. Four columns made of hardstone support a wooden tent roof. Local tradition has it that old parts of a former post mill were reused during its construction. The building offers a chance to admire its simple design and learn about a traditional link with the area’s former milling history.

Another glimpse into the past awaits at the Nederlands Hervormde Kerk at Scharloodijk 33. This rectangular hall church dates from 1788. Arched windows and a small tower with an octagonal spire define its exterior. The Visbank and the church thus offer two different subjects for a cultural history walk: here, a building with four columns and a tent roof; there, a simple church with a distinctive tower top.

Water, walking and planning your visit

Herkingen Marina has berths for visiting boats directly on the Grevelingenmeer. If you are travelling by boat, it is a useful point of reference when planning your time on the water. The clubhouse ’t Krabbennest of WSV Herkingen has showers and a washroom. As operating conditions can change, check whether the facilities are available before using them.

If you are planning a longer walk, consider the Wandelpuzzeltocht Herkingen: it involves completing the loop through the Oud-Herkingen polder twice, covering a total of 14.20 km. This gives you a clearly measured walking option that is easy to fit into your schedule. Route materials may change; check the latest information before setting out.

For a tea break, Theetuin de Bongerd offers more than 100 tea blends to choose from, including black, green and white tea, as well as rooibos, fruit, herbal and flower teas. Check the current opening hours in advance if you plan to visit the terrace and pavilion. If you want your stay to coincide with the Jaarmarkt Herkingen, note the date: the market takes place on the second Saturday in July, and the exact date may vary from year to year.

The status of the Oude Haven Herkingen is also important when planning your visit: it has been out of operation since November 2023 and remains closed to use. Check local notices before planning to access it. This will help you choose Herkingen according to what actually suits you—whether nature watching, local history, walking, or a stay on the Grevelingenmeer.

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