Editing Walcheren

{{More citations needed|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox settlement
|settlement_type    = Former Island
|name               = Walcheren
|image_map          = LocatieWalcheren.png
|subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name   = [[Netherlands]]
|subdivision_type1  = Province
|subdivision_name1  = [[Zeeland (province)|Zeeland]]
|subdivision_type2  = Municipality
|subdivision_name2  = [[Middelburg, Zeeland|Middelburg]]<br />[[Veere]]<br />[[Vlissingen]]
|blank_name_sec1    = Transport
|blank1_name_sec1   = Major roads
|blank1_info_sec1   = [[A58 motorway (Netherlands)|A58]], [[N57 motorway (Netherlands)|N57]]
|blank1_name_sec2   = Railway
|blank1_info_sec2   = [[Roosendaal–Vlissingen railway|Zeelandic line]]
|area_total_km2     = 215.72
|population         = 113,546
|population_as_of   = 2003
|population_density_km2 = 526
|area_code          = 0118
|postal_code_type   = Postal code
|postal_code        = 4330-4399
|postal2_code_type  = [[COROP]]
|postal2_code       = Walcheren
|image_skyline      = Kampveerse toren.jpg
|image_size         = 250px
|image_caption      = Campveer Tower in Veere, built in 1500
}}
<!--  Commented out: [[File:RMSDeltaSouth.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Satellite image of the Scheldt estuary {{pufc|RMSDeltaSouth.jpg}}]] -->
'''Walcheren''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈʋɑlxərə(n)|-|Nl-Walcheren.ogg}}) 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, Zeeland|Middelburg]], the provincial capital, lies at Walcheren's centre. [[Vlissingen]], {{convert|9|km}} to the south, is the main harbour and the third municipality is [[Veere]].

Originally, Walcheren was an island, but the [[Sloedam]], constructed in 1871 for a railway,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant|Middelburgsche Courant]]|first=|last=|accessdate=18 July 2023|date=27 August 1870|title=Middelburg 26 augustus|url=http://krantenbankzeeland.nl/issue/mco/1870-08-27/edition/0/page/1?|page=1|language=nl}}</ref> and [[polders|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).<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Zeeuwsch Dagblad|first=|last=|accessdate=18 July 2023|date=2 August 1867|title=Binnenlandsche Berigten|url=https://krantenbankzeeland.nl/issue/gco/1867-08-02/edition/0/page/2?|page=2|language=nl}}</ref> The [[Veerse Gatdam]], completed in 1961, has connected Walcheren to [[Noord-Beveland]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant|Goessche Courant]]|first=|last=|accessdate=18 July 2023|date=25 April 1961|title=Veerse Gat Afgesloten|url=https://krantenbankzeeland.nl/issue/zda/1961-04-25/edition/0/page/3?|page=3|language=nl}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Walcheren is first attested in Latinized spelling, such as ''villam Walichrum'' ca. 790 and ''Vualacra'' ca. 837. Germanic spellings start appearing around the [[High Middle Ages]], like [[Old Dutch]] ''[[:wikt:walacheri|Walacheri]]'' ca. 1150. The name is most likely a compound of ''*wal(a)c'', meaning "moist", and ''[[:wikt:RC:Old Dutch/hara|*heri/*hara]]'', indicating a sandy ridge.<ref>{{cite book|last1=van Berkel|first1=G.|last2=Samplonius|first2=K.|author-link1=|title=Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard|trans-title=Dutch place-names explained|language=Dutch|publisher=mijnbestseller.nl|publication-date=2018|ISBN=9789463679176}}</ref> Another, less likely theory suggests that the name derives from ''[[Walhaz]]'', the name Germans used for Romans.

==History==

===Early history===
The Romans called the island "Wallacra". As early as Roman times, the island functioned as a point of departure for ships going to [[Roman Britain|Britain]];  it had a temple of the goddess [[Nehalennia]] who was popular with those who braved the waters of the North Sea. 

Walcheren became the seat of the [[Viking|Danish Viking]] [[Harald the Younger|Harald]] (fl. 841–842), who conquered what would become the Netherlands together with his brother [[Rorik of Dorestad|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]].<ref>
{{cite book
| last1                 = Aleksandrov
| first1                = A. A.
| author-link1          = 
| script-title=ru:Остров руссов
|trans-title=The island of the Rus'
| language              = Russian
| location              = St. Petersburg-Kishinev
| publication-date      = 1997
| pages                  = 222–224
}}
</ref>
Another fringe theory mentions Walcheren as the seat of [[Hades]], described by [[Homer]].<ref>
[[Where Troy Once Stood#Geography of the Odyssey|Geography of the ''Odyssey'' according to I. Wilkens]]</ref>

The island played a role in the defeat of the [[Spanish Armada]] in 1588. The Spanish fleet was not able to be supported by deep water ports along the continental side of the English Channel. The [[Duke of Parma]] had occupied [[Antwerp]], a deep water port. However, access to this port was blocked by [[Dutch Republic|Dutch rebels]] and English fighters who occupied Walcheren. As a result, the armada could not be resupplied nor could it seek shelter at Antwerp. Facing dwindling supplies, Admiral [[Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia|Medina-Sedonia]] fled northward, ending the threat to the English. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVdthv0GN_s | title=The Spanish Armada and Antwerp - Did Zeeland doom the Armada before it even sailed? | website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

===Treaty of Dover===

Under the [[Secret Treaty of Dover]], concluded in 1670 between [[Charles II of England]] and [[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===
{{main|Walcheren Campaign}}

Beginning on 30 July 1809, a [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] expeditionary force of 39,000 men [[Walcheren Campaign|landed on Walcheren]], intending to assist the [[Austrian Empire|Austrians]] in their efforts against [[Napoleon]] and attack the [[French Navy]] fleet moored at [[Flushing, Netherlands|Flushing]]. The expedition turned into a disaster, as although British troops captured Flushing 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 expeditionary lost over 4,000 men to a disease called "Walcheren Fever", thought to be a combination of [[malaria]] and [[typhus]], compared to only 106 men to enemy action. The French and Dutch defenders, meanwhile, suffered approximately 4,000 men killed, wounded or captured. With the strategic reasons for the campaign gone and the worsening conditions, the British withdrew in December.

===World War II===
{{main|Battle of Zeeland|Operation Infatuate|Battle of Walcheren Causeway}}
Strategically situated at the mouth of the [[Scheldt|River Scheldt]], Walcheren was the key that allowed use of the deep-water port of [[Antwerp]], located further upstream on the right bank of the [[Western Scheldt|southern estuary]] of the river. It was fought over during [[World War II]] in 1940 between Dutch and German troops in the [[Battle of the Netherlands]], and again in 1944 in the [[Battle of Walcheren Causeway]], the fourth and final stage of the [[Battle of the Scheldt]]. On 3 October 1944 the RAF bombed the sea wall at Westkapelle causing the [[Inundation of Walcheren]]. The [[2nd Canadian Infantry Division]] cleared [[South Beveland]] to the east and approached the island on 31 October 1944. The plan was to cross the Sloe Channel, but leading troops of the [[5th Canadian Infantry Brigade]] found that assault boats were useless in the deep mud of the channel. The only route open was the 40 m wide [[Walcheren Causeway]], a mile-long land bridge from South Beveland to the island. The [[The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada|Canadian Black Watch]] sent a company across on the evening of 31 October, but was stopped. The [[Calgary Highlanders]] sent two companies over in succession, the second attack opening up a bridgehead on the island. The Highlanders were eventually thrown back, having lost 64 killed and wounded. ''[[Le Régiment de Maisonneuve]]'' relieved them on the causeway, followed by the 1st Battalion, [[Glasgow Highlanders]] of the [[52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division|British 52nd Infantry Division]]. Meanwhile, on 1 November 1944, [[British Commandos]] landed in the village of [[Westkapelle (Netherlands)|Westkapelle]] in order to silence the German coastal batteries looking out over the [[Scheldt]]. The amphibious assault  (''[[Battle of the Scheldt#Operation Infatuate I|Operation Infatuate]]'') proved a success and by 8 November, all German resistance on the island had ceased.

==Topography==
[[File:Walcheren-natuur-OpenTopo.jpg|550px]]

''Topographic map of Walcheren, 2015-2016. Click to enlarge.''

==See also==
*[[Nehalennia]]

==References==
{{Wikivoyage|Walcheren}}
{{reflist}}

{{Coord|51|31|17|N|3|34|56|E|region:NL_type:isle|display=title}}

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[[Category:Walcheren| ]]
[[Category:Peninsulas of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Regions of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Regions of Zeeland]]
[[Category:Former islands of Zeeland]]
[[Category:Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]]