View source for Zeeland

{{short description|Province of the Netherlands}}
{{About|the Dutch province}}
{{Distinguish|Zealand|Zealandia|New Zealand|Seeland (disambiguation){{!}}Seeland}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=December 2016}}
{{expand language|topic=Geography|langcode=nl|otherarticle=Zeeland (provincie)|langcode2=de|otherarticle2=Provinz Zeeland|date=April 2021}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Zeeland
| other_name         = Zealand
| official name      = 
| official_name      = Province of Zeeland<br />{{native name|nl|Provincie Zeeland}}<br />{{native name|nl|Provincie Zeêland}}
| native_name        = {{native name|nl|Zeeland}}<br/>{{native name|zea|Zeêland}}
| settlement_type    = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Zeeland.svg
| flag_size          = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Zeeland wapen.svg
| shield_size        = 
| shield_alt         = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = {{langx|la|[[List of Latin phrases (L)|Luctor et emergo]]}},<br><small>{{langx|nl|Ik worstel en kom boven}}<br/>("I struggle and emerge")</small>
| anthem             = "Zeeuws volkslied"<br/><small>("Zeelandic anthem")</small>
| image_map          = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Zeeland in the Netherlands
| image_map1         = Prov-Zeeland-OpenTopo.jpg
| map_caption1       = Topography map of Zeeland
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|51|34|N|3|45|E|region:NL-ZE|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| subdivision_type   = [[Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Netherlands]]
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| founder            = 
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]]
| seat1_type         = Largest city
| seat1              = [[Terneuzen]]
| government_footnotes = 
| leader_party       = [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| leader_title       = [[King's commissioner]]
| leader_name        = [[Hugo de Jonge]] (acting)
| leader_title1      = Council
| leader_name1       = [[States of Zeeland]]
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_note          = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_rank          = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|8th]]
| area_footnotes     = &nbsp;(2023)<ref name="AC">[https://allecijfers.nl/provincie/zeeland/#100-onderwerpen Statistieken provincie Zeeland - Gegevens over meer dan 100 onderwerpen!], AlleCijfers.nl</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 2,933
| area_land_km2      = 1,780
| area_water_km2     = 1154
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_rural_km2     = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_blank1_km2    = 
| area_blank2_km2    = 
| length_km          = 
| width_km           = 
| dimensions_footnotes = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="opendata.cbs.nl">{{Cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37230ned/table|title=CBS StatLine|website=opendata.cbs.nl}}</ref>
| population_total   = 391,124
| population_rank    = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|12th]]
| population_as_of   = 1 January 2023
| population_density_km2 = 220
| population_density_rank = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|10th]]
| population_demonym = Zeeuw
| population_note    = 
| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +01:00
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +02:00
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = 
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:NL|NL-ZE]]
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €15.874 billion
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = €41,600
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2021)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.917<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><br/>{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of provinces of the Netherlands by Human Development Index|10th]]
| website            = {{Official website}}
| footnotes          = 
| image_blank_emblem = Zeeland 2015.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
}}
'''Zeeland''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈzeːlɑnt|lang|239 Zeeland.ogg}}; {{langx|zea|Zeêland|label=[[Zeelandic]]}} {{IPA|zea|ˈzɪəlɑnt|}}), historically known in English by the [[Endonym and exonym|exonym]] '''Zealand''', is the westernmost and least populous [[Provinces of the Netherlands|province]] of the [[Netherlands]]. Located in the south-western corner of the country, it borders [[North Brabant]] to the east, [[South Holland]] to the north, and an international border with [[Belgium]] to the south and west ([[Flanders|Flemish]] provinces of [[East Flanders|East]] and [[West Flanders]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Zeeland |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Zeeland-province-Netherlands |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref>

Zeeland consists of a number of islands and peninsulas (hence its name, meaning "Sealand"), with only the southern part ([[Zeelandic Flanders]]) not being an island or peninsula. Its capital is [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]] with a population of 48,544 as of November 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/70072ned/table|title=CBS Statline|website=opendata.cbs.nl}}</ref> although the largest municipality in Zeeland is [[Terneuzen]] (population 54,589). Zeeland has two [[Port|seaports]]: [[Vlissingen]] and Terneuzen. Its area is {{convert|2,933|km2|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1,154|km2|sqmi}} is water; it had a population of about 391,000 as of January 2023.<ref name="opendata.cbs.nl" />

Large parts of Zeeland are below sea level. The [[North Sea flood of 1953|last great flooding of the area was in 1953]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bulten |first=N |last2=Verbeek |first2=R |date=2008-12-11 |title=Off-Design Behaviour of Waterjets |url=https://doi.org/10.3940/rina.wp.2008.05 |journal=Waterjet Propulsion 5 |publisher=RINA |pages=11–16 |doi=10.3940/rina.wp.2008.05}}</ref> Tourism is an important economic activity. In the summer, its beaches make it a popular destination for tourists, especially [[Germany|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 {{lang|la|luctor et emergo}} ([[Latin]] for "I struggle and emerge").<ref name="DeWaard">DeWaard, Dirk Marc (1983). ''[http://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/8/ Luctor et Emergo: The impact of the Second World War on Zeeland]'' (M.A. thesis) Wilfrid Laurier University</ref> The country of [[New Zealand]] was named after Zeeland after it was sighted by Dutch explorer [[Abel Tasman]].

== History ==
[[File:1580 Zelandicarum v Deventer.jpg|thumb|left|[[Abraham Ortelius|Ortelius]] after van [[Jacob van Deventer (cartographer)|Deventer]]: The [[County of Zeeland]] in 1580]]
[[File:Comitatus Zelandiae accurata & novissima delineatia COLLBN Port 33 N 52, COLLBN Port 33 N 52.tif|thumb|left|Carel Allard: County of Zeeland, 1690.]]

Zeeland was a contested area between the counts of [[Count of Holland|Holland]] and [[County of Flanders|Flanders]] until 1299, when the last count of Holland died. The Counts of [[County of Hainaut|Hainaut]] then gained control of the [[County of Zeeland]], followed by the counts of [[Bavaria]], [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundy]], and [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]]. After 1585, Zeeland followed, as one of the 7 independent provinces, the fate of the Northern part of The Netherlands.

[[File:Netherlands. Viewed from a U.S. Army helicopter, gives a hint of the tremendous damage damage wrought by the flood - NARA - 541705.jpg|thumb|[[North Sea flood of 1953]] in a town in [[Zuid-Beveland]]]]

In 1432, it became part of the [[Low Countries]] possessions of [[Philip the Good]] of [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundy]], the later [[Seventeen Provinces]]. Through marriage, the Seventeen Provinces became the property of the Habsburgs in 1477. In the [[Eighty Years' War]], Zeeland was on the side of the [[Union of Utrecht]], and became one of the [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]]. The area now called ''{{lang|nl|Zeeuws-Vlaanderen}}'' (or [[Zeelandic Flanders]]) was not part of Zeeland, but a part of the county of [[Flanders]] (still under Habsburg control) that [[Siege of Sluis (1604)|was conquered]] by the United Provinces, hence called ''{{lang|nl|Staats-Vlaanderen}}'' (see: [[Generality Lands]]).

After the French occupation (see ''{{lang|fr|département}}'' [[Bouches-de-l'Escaut]]) and the formation of the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]] in 1815, the present province Zeeland was formed.

During World War II, Zeeland was occupied by [[Nazi Germany]] between June 1940 and November 1944.<ref name="DeWaard"/> In 1944, Zeeland was devastated by the [[Battle of the Scheldt]] and the [[Battle of the Scheldt#Operation Infatuate: Capture of Walcheren Island|Walcheren Landings]], which brought about the [[Inundation of Walcheren]],  between British and Canadian forces, and the occupying Germans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.combinedops.com/Walcheren.htm |title=Operation Infatuate – Walcheren |publisher=Combinedops.com |access-date=2013-07-10}}</ref>

The catastrophic [[North Sea flood of 1953]], which killed over 1800 people in Zeeland, led to the construction of the protective [[Delta Works]].

== Geography ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}
[[File:Wikivoyage Map of Zeeland.svg|thumb|The parts of Zeeland]]
Zeeland consists of several islands (''eilanden'') and peninsulas (''schiereilanden''). The following are all the geographic parts that make up the province, from north to south:

* [[Schouwen-Duiveland]] (island)
* [[Tholen]] (peninsula, former island, includes former island [[Sint Philipsland (island)|Sint Philipsland]])
* [[Noord-Beveland]] (peninsula, former island)
* [[Walcheren]] (peninsula, former island)
* [[Zuid-Beveland]] (peninsula, former island)
* [[Zeelandic Flanders]] (continental, bordering [[Belgian Flanders]])

[[File:Zeeland by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of Zeeland]]
The province of Zeeland is a large [[river delta]] situated at the mouth of several major rivers, namely [[Scheldt]] ('Schelde'), [[Rhine]] ('Rijn') and [[Meuse]] ('Maas') (i.e. the [[Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]]). Most of the province lies below sea level and was [[land reclamation|reclaimed]] from the sea by inhabitants over time. What used to be a muddy landscape, flooding at high tide and reappearing at low tide, became a series of small man-made hills that stayed dry at all times. The people of the province would later connect the hills by creating [[levee|dikes]], which led to a chain of dry land that later grew into bigger islands and gave the province its current shape. The shape of the islands has changed over time at the hands of both people and nature.

The deadly [[North Sea flood of 1953]] inundated vast amounts of land that were only partially reclaimed. The subsequent construction of the [[Delta Works]] also changed the face of the province. The infrastructure, although very distinct by the number of bridges, tunnels and dams, has not shaped the [[geography]] of the province so much as the geography of the province has shaped its infrastructure. The dams, tunnels and bridges that are currently a vital part of the province's [[transport in the Netherlands#Road transport|road system]] were constructed over the span of decades and came to replace old ferry lines. The final touch to this process came in 2003 when the [[Western Scheldt Tunnel]] was opened. It was the first solid connection between both banks of the [[Western Scheldt]] and ended the era of water separating the islands and peninsulas of Zeeland.

{{See also|List of cities, towns and villages in Zeeland}}

=== Municipalities ===
The province of Zeeland has 13 [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipalities]]:

{|
|-
| [[File:GemeentenZeelandNrs.png|200px|right|Municipalities in Zeeland]]
|
|
* [[Zeelandic Flanders]] [[COROP]] region
** [[Hulst]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0677}}}} inhabitants) <3>
** [[Sluis]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|1714}}}} inhabitants) <9>
** [[Terneuzen]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0715}}}} inhabitants) <10>
* Overig Zeeland [[COROP]] region
** [[Noord-Beveland]] (North Beveland) ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|1695}}}} inhabitants) <6>
** [[Schouwen-Duiveland]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|1676}}}} inhabitants) <8>
** [[Tholen]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0716}}}} inhabitants) <11>
** [[Walcheren]]
*** [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0687}}}} inhabitants) <5>
*** [[Veere]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0717}}}} inhabitants) <12>
*** [[Vlissingen]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0718}}}} inhabitants) <13>
** [[Zuid-Beveland]] (South Beveland)
*** [[Borsele]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0654}}}} inhabitants) <1>
*** [[Goes]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0664}}}} inhabitants) <2>
*** [[Kapelle]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0678}}}} inhabitants) <4>
*** [[Reimerswaal (municipality)|Reimerswaal]] ({{nts|{{Dutch municipality population|0703}}}} inhabitants) <7>
|}
The largest cities are: Middelburg with 42,000 inhabitants; Vlissingen with 34,000; Goes with 28,000; and Terneuzen with 25,000.

== Demographics ==
{{Expand section|date=April 2014}}
{{Historical populations
|type =
|percentages=pagr
|footnote = Source: [[Statistics Netherlands]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/en/dataset/37259eng/table?dl=6E4D2|title=Population dynamics; birth, death and migration per region|access-date=2022-09-08}}</ref>
|1942 | 256131
|1950 | 268609
|1960 | 283721
|1970 | 305754
|1980 | 348268
|1990 | 355947
|2000 | 371866
|2010 | 381409
|2020 | 383488
}}
As of 1 January 2023, Zeeland had a population of 391,124<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.zeeland.nl/ruimte/bevolking |title=Bevolking |website=Provincie Zeeland |language=nl |access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref> and a population density of {{convert|220|/km2|/sqmi|abbr=on}}. It is the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|least populous]] and the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|3rd least densely populated province]] of the Netherlands.

=== Religion ===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Zeeland (2015)<ref name="religieus">[https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2016/51/helft-nederlanders-is-kerkelijk-of-religieus Helft Nederlanders is kerkelijk of religieus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714153332/https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2016/51/helft-nederlanders-is-kerkelijk-of-religieus |date=14 July 2019 }}, CBS, 22 december 2016</ref>
|label1 = Not religious
|value1 = 46.6
|color1 = Gray
|label2 = [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]]
|value2 = 28.4
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = [[Catholic Church|Catholicism]]
|value3 = 16.1
|color3 = DarkOrchid
|label4 = Other
|value4 = 7.4
|color4 = Turquoise
|label5 = Islam
|value5 = 1.5
|color5 = Green
}}

Zeeland is more religious than the Netherlands as a whole, with over 53% being religious. The Dutch [[Bible Belt (Netherlands)|Bible Belt]] runs through Zeeland. [[Zeelandic Flanders]] is more religious (58.5%) than [[COROP#Zeeland province|the rest of Zeeland]] (51.6%).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statistiek |first=Centraal Bureau voor de |date=2023-04-06 |title=5. De religieuze kaart |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/longread/statistische-trends/2023/religieuze-betrokkenheid-in-nederland/5-de-religieuze-kaart |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek |language=nl-NL}}</ref> Among the religious population, [[Calvinism|Reformed Christianity (Calvinism)]] is dominant, however there is also a large community of [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]], mostly concentrated in Zeelandic Flanders.

After being long part of the vast Franco-Flemish [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cambrai]], Zeeland got its own bishopric, the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Middelburg|Diocese of Middelburg]], on 5 December 1559, which was suppressed in 1603, its territory being merged into the [[Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia (Holland)|Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia]], only to be 'restored' on 22 March 1803 as the [[Apostolic Vicariate of Breda]], which was promoted to the present large (yet counting few faithful) Diocese of Breda, whose See is in the other part, western [[North Brabant]], and enlarged further in 1955, gaining territory from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Haarlem–Amsterdam]].
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Christian denominations in Zeeland (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek |title=Helft Nederlanders is kerkelijk of religieus |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2016/51/helft-nederlanders-is-kerkelijk-of-religieus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815054833/https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2016/51/helft-nederlanders-is-kerkelijk-of-religieus |archive-date=2020-08-15 |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek |language=nl-NL}}</ref><small>(as % of local population)</small>
! rowspan="2" |Municipality
! colspan="4" |Protestant
! rowspan="2" |Roman Catholic
|-
![[Protestant Church in the Netherlands|Protestant Church (PKN)]]
![[Dutch Reformed Church|Dutch Reformed (NHK)]]
![[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands|Reformed Churches]]
!Total
|-
|[[Borsele]]
|10.0
|13.1
|10.8
|33.9
|27.2
|-
|[[Goes]]
|12.7
|12.2
|5.2
|30.1
|13.6
|-
|[[Hulst]]
|1.9
|1.7
|0.3
|3.9
|55.2
|-
|[[Kapelle]]
|13.2
|19.6
|7.3
|40.1
|13.1
|-
|[[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]]
|11.5
|10.5
|10.9
|32.9
|8.2
|-
|[[Noord-Beveland]]
|18.4
|17.5
|1.6
|37.5
|9.2
|-
|[[Reimerswaal (municipality)|Reimerswaal]]
|13.8
|17.3
|25.9
|57.0
|8.9
|-
|[[Schouwen-Duiveland]]
|11.7
|17.3
|7.6
|36.6
|9.2
|-
|[[Sluis]]
|4.2
|12.3
|1.8
|18.3
|24.4
|-
|[[Terneuzen]]
|6.2
|6.7
|5.1
|18.0
|25.1
|-
|[[Tholen]]
|13.3
|24.0
|11.6
|48.9
|6.1
|-
|[[Veere]]
|21.0
|9.4
|16.5
|46.9
|5.1
|-
|[[Vlissingen]]
|7.9
|6.6
|3.1
|17.6
|13.3
|}

== Politics ==
[[File:Middelburg Abdij R01.jpg|thumb|The [[States of Zeeland]] are located in a former abbey in [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]].]]

=== Provincial council ===
The [[States of Zeeland]] is the [[Provincial council (Netherlands)|provincial council]] of Zeeland. As of the [[2023 Dutch provincial elections|2023 provincial election]], the governing coalition consists of the [[Farmer–Citizen Movement|BBB]], [[Reformed Political Party|SGP]], [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]], and [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]], with 23 of 39 seats.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Partisan composition, 2007–2023
|-
! colspan=2; style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Party
! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|2007
! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|2011
! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|2015
! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|2019
! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right; vertical-align:top;"|2023
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Farmer–Citizen Movement}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Farmer–Citizen Movement|BBB]]
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 9
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|GroenLinks–PvdA}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[GroenLinks–PvdA|GL–PvdA]]
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 6
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Reformed Political Party}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Reformed Political Party|SGP]]
| 5
| 4
| 6
| 5
| 5
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| 10
| 6
| 6
| 7
| 5
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| 6
| 7
| 6
| 4
| 4
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Party for Freedom}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Party for Freedom|PVV]]
| {{n/a}}
| 5
| 4
| 2
| 2
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Party for Zeeland}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Party for Zeeland]]
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 2
| 2
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|ChristianUnion}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[ChristianUnion]]
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 1
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Democrats 66}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Democrats 66|D66]]
| 0
| 2
| 3
| 1
| 1
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|JA21}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[JA21]]
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 1
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Party for the Animals}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Party for the Animals|PvdD]]
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 1
| 1
| 1
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Socialist Party (Netherlands)}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]]
| 5
| 3
| 4 
| 2
| 1
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Forum for Democracy}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Forum for Democracy|FvD]]
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| {{n/a}}
| 5
| 1
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|50PLUS}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[50PLUS]]
| {{n/a}}
| 0
| 1
| 2
| 0
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (Netherlands)}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]
| 6
| 7
| 4
| 4
| {{n/a}}
|-
! width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|GreenLeft}}" |
| style="text-align:left;" |[[GreenLeft]]
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 2
| {{n/a}}
|-
! colspan=2; style="text-align:left; background:#e9e9e9;"|Total
! style="background:#e9e9e9;"| 39
! style="background:#e9e9e9;"| 39
! style="background:#e9e9e9;"| 39
! style="background:#e9e9e9;"| 39
! style="background:#e9e9e9;"| 39
|}

=== Provincial executive ===
The [[Provincial executive]] (''Gedeputeerde Staten'') of Zeeland is the executive branch of the province, which consists of several ministers and the [[King's commissioner]] of Zeeland. [[Hugo de Jonge]] ([[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]) was appointed commissioner on September 3rd, 2025<ref>https://www.zeeland.nl/actueel/hugo-de-jonge-officieel-geinstalleerd-als-commissaris-van-de-koning#:~:text=Op%20woensdag%203%20september%202025%20werd%20Hugo%20de,Koning%20in%20Zeeland%20terug%20op%20ons%20YouTube%20kanaal.</ref> (having been acting commissioner from September 2024 onwards). The previous commissioner was [[Han Polman]] ([[Democrats 66|D66]]), who filled the position from March 1st, 2013 until September 16th, 2024.

== Economy ==
The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) of the region was 13.6 billion € in 2018, accounting for 1.8% of the Netherlands economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €30,900, or 102% of the EU27 average that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/10474907/1-05032020-AP-EN.pdf/81807e19-e4c8-2e53-c98a-933f5bf30f58|title=Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018|website=Eurostat}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
=== Train ===
There is one passenger railway line, running from Vlissingen to Roosendaal. It serves the following stations in Zeeland:

* [[Vlissingen railway station|Vlissingen]]
* [[Vlissingen Souburg railway station|Vlissingen-Souburg]]
* Middelburg
* [[Arnemuiden railway station|Arnemuiden]]
* [[Goes railway station|Goes]] 
* [[Kapelle-Biezelinge railway station|Kapelle-Biezelinge]]
* [[Kruiningen-Yerseke railway station|Kruiningen-Yerseke]]
* [[Krabbendijke railway station|Krabbendijke]]
* [[Rilland-Bath railway station|Rilland-Bath]]

=== Bus ===
Bus lines in Zeeland include:
* Line 20: [[Goes]] → [[Terneuzen]] → [[Hulst]] (passing through the [[Western Scheldt Tunnel|Westerschelde Tunnel]])
*Line 50: [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]] → [[Terneuzen]] → [[Ghent]](4 services in each direction on weekends only.) (passing through the [[Western Scheldt Tunnel|Westerschelde tunnel]])
*Line 104: [[Renesse]] → [[Grevelingen|Brouwersdam]] → [[Goedereede|Ouddorp]] → [[Spijkenisse]]
*Line 133: [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]] → [[Veere|Vrouwenpolder]] → [[Oosterscheldekering|Oosterscheldedam]] → [[Schouwen-Duiveland|Renesse]] → [[Schouwen-Duiveland|Zierikzee]] → [[Grevelingen]]dam → [[Oostflakkee|Oude-Tonge]] (crossing the [[Oosterscheldekering]])
* Line 395: [[Schouwen-Duiveland|Zierikzee]] → [[Bruinisse]] → [[Rotterdam]]-Zuidplein

==Legend==
[[Nehalennia]] is a mythological goddess of an ancient religion known around the province of Zeeland. Her worship dates back at least to the 2nd century BC,<ref name=livius>Lendering, 2006.</ref> and flourished in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.<ref name="livius" /> She was possibly a regional god, either [[Celts|Celtic]] or pre-[[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] – but sources differ on the culture that first worshipped her. During the [[Roman Empire|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 mythology comes from the remains of carved stone offerings ([[votive offering|votives]]) which have been dredged up from the Oosterschelde (Eastern Scheldt) since 1870. Two more Nehalennia offering stones have also been found in [[Cologne]], Germany.<ref name="livius" />
''[[Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant]]'' and ''[[BN DeStem|BN/De Stem]]'' are the regional daily newspapers in the province.

==Namesakes==
The first westerners to sight [[New Zealand]] were captained by [[Dutch people|Dutch]] navigator [[Abel Tasman]] in 1642, although he did not land there. Tasman named it ''Staten Landt'', believing it to be part of the land of that name off the coast of [[Argentina]] that is now known as [[Isla de los Estados]]. When that was shown not to be so, Dutch authorities named it ''Nova Zeelandia'' in [[Latin]], ''Nieuw Zeeland'' in Dutch. The two major seafaring provinces of the Netherlands in its Golden Age were [[Holland]] and Zeeland, and the Dutch explorers originally named the largest landmass of Oceania and the two islands to the southeast Nieuw Holland and Nieuw Zeeland, respectively. The former was eventually replaced by the name Australia, but the name New Zealand remained in place for the latter. [[Captain James Cook]] of Britain later anglicised the name to ''New Zealand'' and, after British settlers arrived in New Zealand, English became the main language.

The city of [[Zeeland, Michigan|Zeeland]] in the US state of [[Michigan]] was settled in 1847 by Dutchman Jannes van de Luyster and was [[Municipal corporation|incorporated]] in 1907. [[Flushing, Queens|Flushing]], a neighborhood within the [[borough]] of [[Queens]], New York, is named after the city [[Flushing, Netherlands|Flushing]] (Vlissingen in Dutch) in Zeeland. This dates from the period of the colony of [[New Netherland]], when New York was still known as [[New Amsterdam]]. The Dutch colonies of [[Nieuw Walcheren]] and [[Nieuw Vlissingen]], both on the [[Lesser Antilles|Antillian]] island of [[Tobago]], were both named after parts of Zeeland. The Canadian town of [[Zealand, New Brunswick]], was named for the Zeeland birthplace of Dutchman Philip Crouse who settled in the area in 1789.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://d120788.u25.digipark.com/zealand/index.htm
 |title       = Zealand, New Brunswick, Canada
 |access-date  = 2008-04-01
 |publisher   = University Educational Series, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100612141205/http://d120788.u25.digipark.com/zealand/index.htm
 |archive-date = 12 June 2010
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> [[Zeeland, North Dakota]] is another town named for this province and whose earliest settlers were of Dutch heritage.

[[Paramaribo]], the capital and largest city of [[Suriname]], has a [[Fort Zeelandia (Paramaribo)|Fort Zeelandia]], the former Fort Willoughby during British colonization.

[[Fort Zeelandia (Taiwan)|Fort Zeelandia]] was a fortress built over ten years from 1624 to 1634 by the [[Dutch East India Company]], in the town of Anping (Tainan) on the island of [[Taiwan#Early colonial period (to 1683)|Formosa]], present day [[Taiwan]], during their 38-year rule over the western part of it.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Zeeland}}
{{Wiktionary|Zeeland}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.zeeland.com/en/visit Zeeland Tourist Board]
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Zeeland}}
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/bred0.htm GCatholic - Breda diocese]

{{Zeeland Province}}
{{Provinces of the Netherlands}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Zeeland| ]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Provinces of the Netherlands]]