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Zeeland

Zeeland
Province of the Netherlands
Flag of Zeeland
Flag
Coat of arms of Zeeland
Coat of arms
Motto: Luctor et Emergo
I struggle and emerge
Anthem: "Zeeuws volkslied"
"Zeelandic Anthem"
Location of Zeeland in the Netherlands
Location of Zeeland in the Netherlands
Coordinates: 51°34′N 3°45′E / 51.567°N 3.750°E / 51.567; 3.750Coordinates: 51°34′N 3°45′E / 51.567°N 3.750°E / 51.567; 3.750
Country Netherlands
Capital Middelburg
Largest city Middelburg
Government
 • King's Commissioner Han Polman (D66)
Area
 • Total 2,934 km2 (1,133 sq mi)
 • Land 1,788 km2 (690 sq mi)
 • Water 1,146 km2 (442 sq mi)
Area rank 8th nationally
Population (2014)
 • Total 380,621
 • Rank 12th nationally
 • Density 130/km2 (340/sq mi)
 • Density rank 11th nationally
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code NL-ZE
Website Official website

Zeeland (/ˈzlənd/; Dutch pronunciation: [ˈzeːlɑnt], Zeelandic: Zeêland [ˈzɪə̯lɑnt]) is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and peninsulas (hence its name, meaning "") and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. Its area is about 2,930 square kilometres (1,130 sq mi), of which almost 1,140 square kilometres (440 sq mi) is water, and it has a population of about 380,000.

Large parts of Zeeland are below sea level. The last great flooding of the area was in 1953. Tourism is an important economic activity. In the summer, its beaches make it a popular destination for tourists, especially German tourists. In some areas, the population can be two to four times higher during the high summer season. The coat of arms of Zeeland shows a lion half-emerged from water, and the text "luctor et emergo" (Latin for "I struggle and I emerge"). The country of New Zealand is named after Zeeland (not Zealand (Sjælland) in Denmark, as sometimes claimed).

Nehalennia is a goddess of the ancient religion known around the province of Zeeland. Her worship dates back at least to the 2nd century BC, and flourished in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. She was possibly a regional goddess, either Celtic or pre-Germanic – sources differ on the culture that first worshipped her. During the Roman Era, her main function appeared to be the protection of travelers, especially seagoing travelers crossing the North Sea. Most of what is known about her comes from the remains of over 160 carved stone offerings (votives) which have been dredged up from the Oosterschelde since 1970. Two more Nehalennia offering stones have also been found in Cologne, Germany.


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Wikipedia

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