Flanders zélandaise

See also: Flanders

The Flanders zélandaise ( Zeeuws-Vlaanderen in Dutch) is the part of the province Dutchwoman of Zealand which is on southern bank of the the Western Scheldt. It is composed of three communes: Sluis in the west, Terneuzen in the center and Hulst in the east.

The Flanders zélandaise is culturally strong round towards the Belgian Flanders. The dialect that one hears there brings closer more of the Gantese than to the Dutch.

This territory was until March 14th, 2003 connected to the remainder of the Netherlands only by the waterway, thanks to one of the services of vat of the Provinciale Stoombootdiensten in Zeeland (“provincial Service of steamers of Zealand”), or by a turning via Belgium. On this date, the Tunnel of the Western Scheldt was inaugurated: connecting Terneuzen to Ellewoutsdijk (Zuid-Beveland), it constitutes from now on the principal connection between the Flanders zélandaise and the remainder of the province.

The service of vat Perkpolder - Kruiningen ceased and the service Breskens - Flessingue was replaced by a vat only reserved to the pedestrians and to the cyclists.

The area, whose economic activity is well developed, consisted of the river plains, with an intense agriculture, some industrial parks, and a tourist activity on its coast with the the North Sea and its historical cities.

The principal city is there Terneuzen, port city having important industrial parks near the Canal Ghent-Terneuzen.

Geography

One can formerly divide the Flanders zélandaise into an oriental party and another Western, separate by the Braakman, an old arm of the sea mainly polderized, and nowadays the Ghent-Terneuzen channel. Along this channel are industrial parks as in Terneuzen or Sas van Gent.

Important natural reserves are at the two ends of the territory: in the west, the Zwin, at the border with Belgium; in the east, the Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe (“Drowned Earth of Saeftinghe”).

After the fusion of communes of January 1st, 2003 (see Old communes of Zealand), there are not of them more but three in Flanders zélandaise: Sluis, Terneuzen and Hulst.

In the west, the commune of Sluis is bordered by the North Sea: she mainly endeavors to attract the tourists for holidays at the coast. Cadzand is the seaside resort most known. The old strengthened city of Sluis, with its Belfry (the only one of all the Netherlands), and Aardenburg are appreciated also much.
the commune of Terneuzen is in the center of the Flanders zélandaise and borders the industrial channel of Ghent with Terneuzen. Terneuzen is primarily a working city. The mytilicole village of Filipino is an attraction.
the commune of Hulst, in the east, is profiled like the Flemish city of the Netherlands . It is especially the Burgundian lifestyle of the strengthened city of Hulst which attracts many Belgian tourists.

The Flanders zélandaise is, with one population density of 147 inhabitants per km ², an area slightly populated in comparison with the average Dutchwomen. It densément is as less densément populated as the Flemish provinces (Flanders-Western and Flanders-Eastern) of Belgium, in the south.

It is remarkable that the border between the Flanders zélandaise and Belgium is practically harmonizes some with the differences in physical geography in the basement. Thus, the ground in Flanders zélandaise is argillaceous while the grounds of the Belgian side are more obviously sandy.

History

The geography of the area changed considerably during the history. Although the territory is now part of the continent of Europe, it is certain that it was not always thus. For example, Terneuzen, Zaamslag and Axel were in the beginning on an island which was colonized by the people come from opposite bank (Walcheren). This part of the area strongly has a character calvinist. Close to Zaamslagveer, in the oriental party, the true continent starts: it is the country of Hulst. This one is always catholic marked; it was conquered more tardily by the République. The whole area was the frontline during the Guerre Eighty Year old and when it was finally conquered, it became a Pays of the General information: Flanders of the States. Nowadays, the catholics and the Protestants get along, though cultural differences some can be noticed.

In the west of Terneuzen, there was in the beginning much water: the Braakman, an arm of the sea which was only dammed up in the Fifties, in is a remainder. The west of the area also has an animated history. Breskens is not called for nothing Bresjes (in Flemish Westerner); there were formerly many small islands. The Zwin, which is more currently only one narrow part of tide constituting the national border guéable, was formerly a large arm of the sea which connected Bruges via Damme to the North Sea. Sluis is nowadays in a pretty area inside the grounds, but the battles of the Lock in 1344 was a true naval battle.

After the Belgium conquered its independence in 1830, the area became primarily a paradise for the traffic, inter alia butter and cigarettes, although there were also military installations. Terneuzen always has an arsenal, at the border close to Knokke is the village of Retranchement and the ruins of fortifications still to be discovered. During the First World War, plans of annexation was prepared in Belgium in compensation of the undergone damage. Amongst other things reaction, the patriotic song of the Flanders zélandaise was made up.

A kind of self-awareness renewed appeared in the area in 1958 at the time them protest actions to defend the Vrije Veren (“Free Vats”) carried out by the merchant of colourful cattle Honore Colsen, originating in Sluiskil.

Localities of Flanders zélandaise

Aardenburg - Absdale - Axel - Axelsche Sassing - Biervliet - Biezen - Boerenhol - Breskens - Cadzand - Clinge - Draaibrug - Drie Hoefijzers - Driewegen - Eede - Emmadorp - Graauw - Griete - Groede - Heikant - Heille - Hengstdijk - Hoek - Hoofdplaat - Hulst - IJzendijke - 'T Jagertje - Kapellebrug - Koewacht - Kloosterzande - Kijkuit - Kruisdijk - Kruispolderhaven - Kuitaart - Lamswaarde - Nieuw-Namen - Nieuwvliet - Nummer een - Magrette - Mauritsfort - Oostburg - Ossenisse - Othene - Paal - Prosperdorp - Pyramid - Perkpolder - Filipino - Cutting off - Reuzenhoek - Hopper van Race - Sasput - Schapenbout - Schoondijke - Schuddebeurs - Sint Anna for the third time Muiden - Sint Jansteen - Sint Kruis - Slijkplaat - Sluis - Sluiskil - Spui - Terhole - Turkeye - Terneuzen - Valley - Vogelwaarde - Walsoorden - Waterlandkerkje - Westdorpe - Zaamslag - Zaamslagveer - Zandberg - Zandstraat - Zuiddorpe - Zuidzande

Flemings zélandais famous

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