Monday 7 January 2013

Our World Tuesday, ABC Wednesday, Z of Zeeland, Holland



Happy New Year! Time flies, but I hope we will often meet  in 2013 in good health!

Last week Friday I came home, and therefore this post is about the Netherlands again.



Welcome to Our World Tuesday! This meme continues in memory of the work of Klaus Peter, whose "that's My World" brought people together from around the world every Monday to share the wonders therein--big and small.Please click on our  logo for "Our World Tuesday" in the sidebar.

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with Z.

The Netherlands has twelve provinces, two of them are called Holland( North- and South- Holland) because hundreds of years ago the Earl of Holland was considered to be more important than other earls and even than the duke of Brabant. Anyway one of the other provinces is Zeeland. That's where my relatives and ancestors originated from. New Zealand is named after this province. This province has often played an important role in the history of my country. Michiel de Ruyter,the famous Admiral of the Dutch navy, was born here.During WW II Zeeland was inundated by the Germans, later in 1953 we had a terrible flood caused by a gale. There were many casualties. From all over the world volunteers came to Zeeland to offer their help and skills to rebuild the country. That's why I started to join international workcamps during the summer holidays, which was very interesting. Because I met many students from all over the world, some of whom I still see.

19 comments:

Dina said...

Shalom Wil. I'm glad you are safely home in The Netherlands. Tasmania is looking really scary lately with the fires.

Roger Owen Green said...

why is New Zealand named after Zeeland?

The Weaver of Grass said...

I must say Wil that I was absolutely fascinated by your wonderful drainage systems when I visited your delightful country a couple of years ago. You cope with being below sea level so very well.

Sylvia K said...

I, too, am glad that you are safely home from your holiday, Wil! Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you're enjoying the new year! I always enjoy the information/history and photos that you share with us! Have a great week!

Reader Wil said...

Roger,you asked about the name of New Zealand. Well the Dutch man Abel Tasnan was the first European coming in that country and he, or another Dutchman named it after the Dutch province of Zeeland.

Unknown said...

Great video tour!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Unknown said...

Happy and prosperous New Year, Wil!
Zeeland is where I spent my chidhood and teen years. Arnemuiden (of all places:), Goes, Middelburg and Vlissingen are all very familiar to me. Haven't been back after our move to the US, because all my relatives live in the North!

George said...

I'm glad you made it home safe and sound. Thank you for the information about Zeeland.

Anonymous said...

Lovely glimpses into your world.

A Colorful World said...

Such a fascinating history, Wil, and the photos are wonderful! I had no idea about Zeeland and was happy to learn. I know you are glad to be home!

Leslie: said...

I did not know Zeeland was named after New Zealand...what is the connection?

Leslie
abcw team

Richard Lawry said...

Nice bit of history. I'm always interested in learning more about places.


An Arkies Musings


Wanda said...

Have a friend from Holland...she probably knows where this is.

photowannabe said...

Thank you for the interesting information. I didn't know about Zeeland and New Zealand either.
Glad you came home safely and had a nice holiday with your family.

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful post for 'z' and excellent photo ~

(A Creative Harbor) aka ArtMuseDog and Carol ^_^

Chubskulit Rose said...

Like the others, I did not know about Zeeland as well.

Z is for...
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Lisa said...

Hope your holiday was wonderfully blessed. I enjoyed your photos.

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

Thank you for that breathtaking tour with 'guided' information!

Hope you enjoyed the holidays!

ChrisJ said...

That terrible gale in 1953 hit where I lived just the other side of the North Sea. Everyone remembers the winter of '53.. We had waves coming over the 50 foot cliffs in east Yorkshire.
I'm so glad you commented on Meryl's blog about Zeigeist because I echo your sentiments. I know everyone says the older generation always feel threatened by the new inventions, but I do feel that people lose a sense of who they are with so much information -- and so much of it being unreliable. It leaves us very open to being manipulated.