The Dutch province of Zeeland (Sea land) used to consist of a collection of islands and peninsulas in the southwestern corner of the country. After massive floods that were caused by a combination of high water and badly maintained dykes in 1953, the Dutch government decided that the area should have a better protection against the sea. The so-called Delta Plan was launched and numerous islands were connected with each other by a collection of dams and dykes, to shorten the province's coastline and diminish the danger of floods occurring.
The Delta Expo gives an excellent impression of all the works. It sits next to the 3.2 km long storm surge barrier (stormvloedkering), not far from the provincial capital of Middelburg. There are many quiet towns all over the province and you will see numerous medieval buildings and old churches in Zeeland, as well as reminders of past floods.
Zeeland's largest agglomoration is the port city of Terneuzen. The province's other major port is Vlissingen. Zeeland is popular for its beaches and historic towns. Some of the most scenic towns include Goes, Middelburg and Zierikzee, amongst others.
New Zealand got its name from Zeeland, after it was sighted by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman.
Find a flight to Zeeland