Hulst (municipality)

Hulst
City and Municipality
Basilica of Hulst in 2006
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Zeeland
Coordinates: 51°17′N 4°3′E / 51.283°N 4.050°E / 51.283; 4.050Coordinates: 51°17′N 4°3′E / 51.283°N 4.050°E / 51.283; 4.050
Country	Netherlands
Province	Zeeland
Government
• Body	Municipal council
• Mayor	Jan-Frans Mulder (CDA)
Area
• Total	251.82 km2 (97.23 sq mi)
• Land	201.44 km2 (77.78 sq mi)
• Water	50.38 km2 (19.45 sq mi)
Elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Population (May 2014)
• Total	27,370
• Density	136/km2 (350/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Hulstenaar
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode	4560–4569, 4580–4589
Area code	0114
Website	www.gemeentehulst.nl

Hulst (Dutch pronunciation: [ɦɵlst]) is a municipality and city in southwestern Netherlands in the east of Zeelandic Flanders.

Hulst received city rights in the 12th century.

Hulst was captured from the Spanish in 1591 by Maurice of Orange but was recaptured by Archduke Albert in 1596.

In 1645, the Siege of Hulst (to control the left bank of the Schelde river) occurred. It was led by Prince of Orange Frederick Henry, during the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) with Spain.

A further siege took place in 1702, where General Menno van Coehoorn defended the town successfully for the Dutch and in 1747 when it was taken by the French after incompetent defence by Lt General Pieter de la Rocque.

In the seventeenth century, a star fort was constructed. The fortifications, constructed during that time, are historic examples of Dutch fortress architecture.

The name Hulst (Holly in English) would appear to come from the shape of the battlements. Holly is depicted growing around the towns crest.

Hulst is located at 51°17′N 4°3′E / 51.283°N 4.050°E / 51.283; 4.050 in the south of the province of Zeeland in the southwest of the Netherlands. It is situated in the east of the region Zeelandic Flanders, which is connected by land only to Belgium, on the Dutch-Belgian border.