Termunterzijl: Protected Village View and Water Management History

Termunterzijl lies on the Eems-Dollard and is part of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. Water management, fishing and the Dollard landscape shape different aspects of the village. Termunterzijl is officially designated as a protected village view. The permanent exhibition at the Visserijmuseum Termunterzijl explores the village’s role in drainage and the shrimp fishery.

Water Management and Fishing History

The exhibition’s section on drainage covers waterschappen, zijlen and gemalen: water boards, locks and pumping stations. Another focus is Termunterzijl’s role as a centre of the shrimp fishery. This includes fishing, drying facilities and home peeling. In this way, the exhibition addresses both water management and various aspects of processing and work related to the catch.

The Boog van Ziel lock illustrates a specific sequence in the village’s history. Antoni Verburgh, the city architect of Groningen, built it around 1725. It replaced an older lock dating from 1601, which was destroyed during the Sint-Maartensvloed of 1686. The lock’s name, builder and dates give it a clear place in the history of water management in Termunterzijl.

Another notable water-management structure is the Museumgemaal Cremer. Water engineer Pieter Geert Cremer built it in 1930/1931. It is recognised as a Rijksmonument for its prominent position in the village landscape, cultural and historical value, good state of preservation and distinctive design. The Boog van Ziel lock and Museumgemaal Cremer thus represent different periods of construction while also highlighting the importance of water management in the village.

Landscape, Nature and Routes

The Punt van Reide nature area lies east of Termunterzijl. It provides a habitat for many migratory birds and serves as a natural resting place for seals. The headland itself is not freely accessible, but there are opportunities to explore nature in the areas on either side. This distinction is useful when combining wildlife watching with specific plans for an outing.

A walking route of about 13.6 kilometres runs from Termunterzijl to Punt van Reide and is marked with Waddenwandelen junctions. Check route conditions and local markings before setting out. The Dollardroute offers a different sense of direction: it runs from Nieuwe Statenzijl to Termunterzijl and then continues towards Winschoten. While the walking route names Punt van Reide as its destination, the Dollardroute describes a sequence of places, with Termunterzijl as a stop along the way.

From the top of the De Golf van Termunterzijl observation tower, you can see the De Dollard nature area and Germany on one side, and Termunterzijl and Termunten on the other. In Termunterzijl, a fish passage also helps fish migrate upstream from the Wadden Sea. It is located at Gemaal Rozema, A.Verburghwijk 2, 9948 PE Termunterzijl. Waterschap Hunze en Aa's offers visits to Gemaal Rozema as part of its educational programmes.

Village Character and Regional Highlights

Along the Termunterzijldiep, houses line a narrow brick-paved road that is not accessible to cars. A small beach is also part of the village landscape. The natural and waterside landscape offers several different points of interest: views of the Dollard, the surroundings of Punt van Reide and the paths along the water.

Fishing is also a living tradition in Termunterzijl: Vispaleis Westerhuis regularly holds shrimp-peeling demonstrations. Local restaurants offer cosy terraces and excellent fish dishes; individual businesses and menus may change. Together with the fishing themes explored at the museum, this connects the history of shrimp fishing with the village’s culinary side.

Discover more destinations: Termunten, Delfzijl, Wagenborgen.

Go to the parent travel overview: Delfzijl.