Walcheren

Walcheren
Walcheren
Former Island
	Zeeland
Municipality	Middelburg; Veere; Vlissingen
Area
• Total	215.72 km2 (83.29 sq mi)
Population (2003)	113,546
• Density	526/km2 (1,360/sq mi)
Postal code	4330-4399
COROP	Walcheren
Area code	0118
Major roads	A58, N57
Railway	Zeelandic line

Walcheren (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɑlxərə(n)] ^ⓘ) is a region and former island in the Dutch province of Zeeland at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Eastern Scheldt in the north and the Western Scheldt in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus. The two sides facing the North Sea consist of dunes and the rest of its coastline is made up of dykes. Middelburg, the provincial capital, lies at Walcheren's centre. Vlissingen, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) to the south, is the main harbour and the third municipality is Veere.

Originally, Walcheren was an island, but the

poldering after World War II have connected it to the (former) island of Zuid-Beveland, which in turn was connected to the North Brabant mainland by the Kreekrakdam (Completed in 1867).^[2] The Veerse Gatdam, completed in 1961, has connected Walcheren to Noord-Beveland.^[3]

History

Early history

As early as Roman times, the island functioned as a point of departure for ships going to

Walhaz

, the name Germans used for Romans.

Walcheren became the seat of the

Danish Viking Harald (fl. 841–842), who conquered what would become the Netherlands together with his brother Rorik (fl. 842–873) (or Rurik) in the ninth century. One fringe theory has it that Ahmad ibn Rustah (fl. 10th century) described Walcheren when reporting on the seat of the Rus' Khaganate.^[4]

Another fringe theory mentions Walcheren as the seat of Hades, described by Homer.^[5]

The island played a role in the defeat of the

Medina-Sedonia fled northward, ending the threat to the English. ^[6]

Treaty of Dover

Under the

Louis XIV of France, England was supposed to get possession of Walcheren as well as the isle of Cadzand

, as the reward for helping France in the then impending war against the Dutch Republic. In the event, the Dutch resistance — much stronger than anticipated — managed to repulse the French-English attack, and the treaty was not implemented.

Napoleonic Wars

Starting on 30 July 1809, a

Flushing (Vlissingen). The expedition turned into a disaster—although Flushing surrendered the Austrians had already been decisively defeated at the Battle of Wagram in early July and were suing for peace. Meanwhile, the French fleet had moved to Antwerp, and the British lost over 4,000 men to a disease called "Walcheren Fever", thought to be a combination of malaria and typhus

, as well as to enemy action. The French suffered some 4000 dead, wounded and captured. With the strategic reasons for the campaign gone and the worsening conditions, the British force was withdrawn in December.