Flushing, Netherlands
(Redirected from Vlissingen)
Categories: Zeeland | Cities in the Netherlands | Municipalities of the Netherlands
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Zeeland |
| Area - Land - Water | 344.97 km² 34.14 km² 310.83 km² |
| Population (2005) - Density | 45,357 1,329/km² |
Flushing (Dutch Image:Ltspkr.pngVlissingen) is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. In the 17th century Flushing was a main harbour for ships of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). It is also known as the birthplace of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. Flushing is mainly noted for the de Schelde wharves where most of the ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) are built.
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Population centres
- Oude Stad
- Rosenburg
- Paauwenburg
- Papegaaienburg
- Lammerenburg
- Oost-Souburg
- Ritthem (West-Souburg is just a quarter)
- Flushing
The city of Flushing
Having a strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Flushing has been an important harbour for centuries. It was granted city rights in 1315.
History of the name 'Vlissingen'
Research still hasn't been able to determine where the name Vlissingen was derived from originally. Most theories however relate the name to the word fles (bottle) in one way or another.
One legend states that Bishop Wilibrord landed in Flushing with a bottle in the seventh century. He shared the contents of his bottle with the beggars he found there while trying to convert them. A miracle occurred, because the contents of the bottle did not seem to diminish. When the Bishop realised the beggars did not want to listen to his words, he gave them his bottle. After that, he supposedly called the city Flessinghe.
Another source states that the name has its origins in an old ferry-service house, on which a bottle was attached. The monk Jacob van Dreischor, who visited the city in 967, then apparently called the ferry-house het veer aan de Flesse (the ferry at the Bottle). Because many cities in the region later received the appendix -inge, the name gradually could have evolved to Vles-inge.
According to another source, the name was derived from the Danish word Vles, which means tides. This could have led to the city's current name.
Famous people
Admiral Michiel Adriaanszoon de Ruijter was born here.
Transport
Railway stations: Vlissingen, Vlissingen Souburg. Ferry connection to Breskens
External links
- Official website (in Dutch, English, and German)
- Map
- A short history of Flushing
- Railway station Vlissingen:
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