Valkenisse, Walcheren

Valkenisse is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Zeeland, on the former island of Walcheren.

Valkenisse was created in 1966 in a merger of Biggekerke, Koudekerke and Zoutelande, and existed until 1997, when it was merged into Veere.

The municipality was named after the two hamlets Groot-Valkenisse and Klein-Valkenisse.

References

Coordinates: 51°29′20″N 3°30′56″E / 51.48889°N 3.51556°E / 51.48889; 3.51556

Walcheren

Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Oosterschelde in the north and the Westerschelde in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus. The two sides facing the North Sea consist of dunes; the rest of its coastline is made up of dykes. Middelburg lies at its centre; this city is the provincial capital and Vlissingen 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) to the south is the main harbour. The third municipality is Veere.

Originally, Walcheren was an island, but polders and a dam across the Oosterschelde have connected it to the (former) island of Zuid-Beveland, which in turn has been connected to the North Brabant mainland.

History

Early history

As early as Roman times, the island functioned as a point of departure for ships going to Britain; it had a temple of the goddess Nehalennia who was popular with those who braved the waters of the North Sea. The Romans called it "Wallacra", a term most likely associated with Walha, the name Germans used for all foreign peoples.