Zeeland is a province of the Netherlands. Literally translated, the name
'Zeeland' means: sea and land.
Zeeland is situated on the North Sea coast in the extreme southwest of the
country and it is transected by two mighty rivers: the Oosterschelde and
Westeschelde. The territory of the province consists of water, islands and
peninsulas.
The history of Zeeland is the history of the struggle between sea and land
and the history of men using and fighting the sea. The sea can be a friend but
cab also be an enemy. Zeelanders use the sea for recreation and for economic
activities such as fishing and transporting and, in the past, for discovering
the world.
On the other hand, Zeelanders are permanently fighting the sea to prevent
flooding.
In Zeeland, the open, panoramic scenery is impressive. The country exists to al large extent of farmland and wetlands. Small towns and villages, many of them historic, and scattered over the countryside.
Famous 'Zeeland-Americans'The famous Roosevelt family is said to have hailed originally from the island of Tholen in Zeeland. The Roosevelt family brought forth many famous political figures, including two American presidents: Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), and Franklin D. Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1963) who was a strong advocate of human and women's rights. The City of Middelburg, capital of Zeeland, is hosting the Roosevelt Study Center and the Roosevelt Academy.
|