Permanent exhibition

Displayed in the beautiful historic conservatory annex coach-house of the neighbouring Westhove Castle, the exhibition concentrates on the origin of the landscape of the province of Zeeland, and to its rich natural scenery. The information is varied and is meant for all ages. Special discovery questions and game elements for children can be found in several places.

The first room shows the development of the land and the first habitation of medieval Zeeland. Beautiful scale models picture scenes of life in that period. What did the first settlements of the 11^th century look like? This exhibition gives us a notion. Large aquariums in this room show life in the waters of Zeeland.

The second room shows the ever increasing role of humans in the shaping of the land. A lifelike surveyor from the 17^th century is studying his maps, working on new dams. Each next generation took care of the reclaiming of new parts of the salty coastal area. Habitable islands were formed through the ages, which gradually merged into the larger living areas of today.

The force of the sea has often destroyed the reclamations. Over 100 villages, scattered across the province, were drowned. Sometimes the surrounding area was never reclaimed again, causing them to be located outside the dikes, forever submerged in the mud. Part of the exhibition is dedicated to these drowned villages of Zeeland, with some beautiful archaeological finds from these places.

The wonder cupboards in the final exhibition room are also very interesting. They contain all sorts of extraordinary things.