It is a part of the municipality of Veere, and lies about 9 km north of Middelburg.

[3] The village was first mentioned in 1162 as tHoostcapelle, and means "eastern chapel".

[4] Oostkapelle developed as a circular church village in the Early Middle Ages on a ridge.

Westhove Castle was built to the west of the village in 1277 and was owned by the Middelburg Abbey.

[6] In the 20th century, Oostkapelle started to develop as a holiday resort and spa town, due to its vicinity to the dunes and the North Sea.