Seal spotting around Renesse:
best spots and times

Seals aren't very difficult to find around Renesse, because the tranquility, the space and the clean water suit these animals perfectly.

• Why they thrive here: the beautiful nature, the clean water, the space and the tranquility all have a positive impact on these animals, making them feel right at home.
• The good life: seals lounge a lot on the beach and the sandbanks, soaking up the sun.
• Swimming and hunting: in between they swim a lap and dive for fresh fish, their main source of food.

The coast of Renesse, the Oosterschelde and the Grevelingenmeer are home to fairly large populations of seals.

• Not just the Wadden: the Wadden admittedly has the reputation, but fans of seals can now see them just as well in Zeeland, where numbers are growing rapidly.
• Everywhere in the delta: most of them relax on the sandbanks of the Voordelta, but there are also dozens in the Grevelingenmeer and the Oosterschelde, and a good number in the Westerschelde.
• Loyal to their spot: exact numbers are hard to give because the animals swim to and fro, but once they feel at ease somewhere they keep returning to that same area.

Two kinds

Dutch waters are home to two kinds of seals, which you can tell apart quite well with a little practice.

• The common seal: the smaller of the two, with males growing up to two metres. Recognisable by its small, round head, its V-shaped nostrils and the dark spots on a grey, dark brown or black coat.
• The grey seal: considerably larger at over three metres, with a straight, elongated muzzle (rather like a horse's head) and parallel, separated nostrils. The coat is usually grey, but can be dark brown or black.
• Together but solitary: seals bask in groups on the sandbank, but otherwise live solitary lives.
• Brief mothering: a mother nurses her pup for only about four weeks. In danger she saves herself, and she won't look for a pup she loses. Such abandoned pups are sometimes found in time and taken to a seal sanctuary to be fed and cared for.

Sandbanks

Seals need the sandbanks to rest and to raise their young, and that is exactly where they must be left in peace.

• Close to people: some seals you spot in the middle of the sea, or they swim curiously alongside you as you sail. On the sandbanks, by contrast, they gather in large groups.
• Safe at the edge: they prefer to lie on shallow flats along the steep side, so they can slip into the water and swim away in a flash if they sense danger.
• Don't disturb them: never sail or walk up to a sandbank with seals on it. The animals vanish into the water at once, and it is also prohibited.

The best time to see seals

Spotting seals is partly a matter of timing: it comes down mostly to the tide and the season.

• Around low tide: between two hours before and one hour after low tide most seals lie sunbathing on the exposed flats, so check the tides in advance.
• Each species its season: common seals have their pups in summer (roughly June and July), while grey seals do so in winter (roughly November to January), when the white pups lie on the flats.
• Calm weather helps: in calm, clear weather there are usually more animals hauled out than during storms and high waves.

Watching seals with respect

Seals are wild animals that startle easily, so keep it safe both for them and for yourself.

• Keep your distance: stay far enough away that the animals remain settled. Watch through binoculars or a telephoto lens rather than moving closer.
• Leave pups alone: never touch a young seal or take it with you. If an animal is sick or weak, call the seal sanctuary or a ranger, and keep dogs on the lead.
• Follow the rules on the water: don't approach sandbanks by boat, kayak or paddleboard, as disturbing the seals is an offence.
• Take your litter home: clean water and a clean coast keep these animals healthy.

Location

Spotting seals is increasingly becoming a popular activity in Zeeland.

• Brouwersdam: for those who want the easy option, head to the lock in the Brouwersdam. On the seaward side the seals sometimes swim just a few metres away, peeking their curious heads out of the water as if they were looking for people themselves.
• From the beach: near the Plompe Toren by Burgh-Haamstede, the Verklikkerstrand near Nieuw-Haamstede or the beach access on the Jan van Renesseweg in Renesse, you can spot the seals out on the sandbank.
• Timing and kit: between two hours before and one hour after low tide they usually lie sunbathing. Binoculars or a camera with a good zoom let you see them well from the beach.