Hoedekenskerke

History

The village was first mentioned around 1280 as Hoedekinskerke, and means "(private) church of Oedekin (Oede)". Hoedekenskerke is a road village along the Westerschelde which developed in the 12th century. In 1454, a ferry to Terneuzen was established. The ferry service closed in 1972. The Dutch Reformed church dated from the 15th century. Around 1850, it was rebuilt and only the original choir remained. The church was damaged during World War II, and restored between 1948 and 1949. Hoedekenskerke was home to 481 people in 1840. In 1927 a railway station was opened on the Goes to Hoedekenskerke railway line. It was damaged in 1944 and closed in 1947. The railway station reopened in 1990 as a museum line. It has historic house museum and shop Wienkeltje van Wullempje that recreates daily life from the 1930s–1950s based on former residents.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  17,723
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  15,429
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  13,638
• Common Chiffchaff

  Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  13,215
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  13,102
• Eurasian Kestrel

  Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  12,802
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  12,130
• Ring-necked Pheasant

  Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  11,980