Flessingue

Flessingue (in Dutch Vlissingen ), is a common and a city Dutchwoman equipped with an important commercial port located on the old island of Walcheren, in Zealand. With its strategic position between the the Scheldt and the the North Sea, Flessingue was an important port lasting of the centuries. At the 17th century, the city was the principal port for the boats of the Compagnie Dutchwoman of the Eastern Indies. She is also the fatherland of the admiral Michiel de Ruyter.

Localities

Except the town of Flessingue, the commune includes/understands the following villages or hamlets:

Etymology

The name of Flessingue probably comes from fles (“bottle”): the bottle exploits a part in all kinds of theories the toponym and one can always see it in the armorial bearings of the city.

The name of city is found with New York (the New Amsterdam) in the form of Flushing , deformation English for Vlissingen .

History

The first mention of Flessingue goes up with 620. Flessingue was then nothing more than one small hamlet in the west of the old city.

During the digging of the new ports, the Nouvelle Flessingue appeared.

Since 1315, the city holds a communal Charte.

It is since Flessingue that Charles Quint and its sister Marie of Hungary was withdrawn in Spain, in 1556.

In 1585, the city as well as strong Rammekens became an English possession: the queen Elisabeth obtained them at the same time as Brielle and Ostend like guarantee, in exchange of: 5000 soldiers come to help the Netherlands in their fight against Spain (1568-1648). This guarantee will last until 1616.

Michiel de Ruyter, the Dutch Lord High Admiral, was born in Flessingue in 1607. The year 2007, fourth centenary of its birth, was proclaimed the year Michiel de Ruyter . Many festivities will take place in the city.

In 1809, during the Napoleonean Wars, the English troops unloaded on the island of Walcheren and Flessingue was besieged. August 10th, the attackers began light cannonadings; two days later, heavy cannonadings followed: 1.100 guns were used. Many buildings were destroyed: most known of them is the town hall on the large one places.

See also: Forwarding of Walcheren

The Naval construction worked during the centuries the urban landscape of the city. It is in Flessingue that was established one of the shipyards of the Amirauté zélandaise. In 1814, the Koninklijke Marine (“Royal Navy”) there establishes the Marine Establishment Vlissingen , a shipyard for the construction of new buildings, the repair and the equipment of the ships of the Navy, but it closed in 1868. In 1875, the grounds of the building site were acquired for the activities of the Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde (“Royal Company the Scheldt”).

In the Thirties, the burgomaster Van Woelderen wanted to develop the economy of the city on the basis of three pillar: tourism, the port and industry. The ports of the city were increased and one made the publicity of Flessingue as a Seaside resort. A beach and a thrown walk were arranged. Flessingue knew then a rapid growth and became a site harbor, industrial and tourist important.

The pier was demolished on order of the German occupants during the Second world war in order to counter an unloading of the Allies.

The pier forever rebuilt walk, but at the same place of other tourist attractions were built, like the Reptielenzoo Iguana , the center of attraction Het Arsenaal and the cinematographic complex Cine City .

Moreover, there are in the city various shopping malls among which the downtown area is most important. Moreover, one new covered shopping mall is in construction and there are already various plans designed to increase the center with the ground of the old shipyard of the Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde . The ground of approximately 35 hectares was given up by the shipyard after 120 years of activities. On this place, beside the enlarging of the shopping mall, one envisages also housing construction, of a marina, a theater, restaurants, coffees, of an urban hotel, etc

The ground and the construction project of new buildings are known by the population like the Scheldekwartier (“District of the Scheldt”), but the municipality temporarily gives still the preference to the Dokkershaven because the project under this name was named for the European Urban and Regional Planning Achievement Awards (EURPA) 2006 , a prestigious architectural price which has however escaped in Flessingue. The first phase of the project will start in 2007.

Fish

Minque or shouted with fish is in the inner harbor. It is there that the fishermen of Arnemuiden and Flessingue have their home port.

Museums, monuments and sites

During the summer, the boulevards, the Nollestrand and the beach attract many tourists and inhabitants of Flessingue.

On the southernmost pier, there is a Orgue with wind in bamboo: when the wind is strong, it sounds vaguely like a chorus.

The old center counts approximately 300 monuments to which the city is the thirtieth town of art of the Netherlands. The city is also maritime because of these monuments but also by its localization on the the Western Scheldt and intense naval circulation in the roads.

The wind and dancing water gives each day a different environment to the city.

Monuments

  • the church Saint-Jacob
  • the tower with the prisoners
  • Zeemanserve
  • the Carolingian castle-extremely
  • the Wooldhuis
  • the Stock Exchange
  • the native house of Michiel de Ruyter
  • the Full Vier Winden (place of the Four Winds)
  • the shipyard De Schelde

Museums

  • Het Arsenaal (amusement park on the topic of the pirates)
  • Zeeuws Maritiem muZEEum (maritime Museum zélandais)
  • Reptielenzoo Iguana (zoological gardens devoted to the reptiles)

Events

  • Bevrijdingsfestival (“Festival of the day of the Release”), on May 5th
  • Vlootschouw De Ruyter , from July 5th to 8th
  • Straatfestival , from July 5th to 8th
  • Sail de Ruyter , from August 23rd to 28th
  • Film by the sea , from September 14th to 23rd (festival centered on the film adaptations of literary works)

The highest sea levels with Flessingue

  1. February 1st, 1953: 455 cm with the top of NAP ( Normaal Amsterdams Peil )
  2. January 3rd, 1976: 394 cm with the top of the NAP
  3. March 12th, 1906: 392 cm with the top of the NAP
  4. January 28th, 1994: 387 cm with top NAP
  5. February 27th, 1990: 384 cm with top NAP

Native personalities of Flessingue

Gallery

Random links:Michael Blum | Cryptothelea | Sea of sand of Stambruges | Douglas Alexander | Rooms of the South | Assurance-maladie_(Etats-Unis)