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Vlissingen

Already in the year 620 the name of the town of Flushing was known. At the time it was no more than a fishermen’s settlement. Only in 917 a real village was built. In the following centuries the city has had a rich and eventful history due to its strategic position in the estuary of the river Schelde and at the passage to the North Sea.

Twenty-first-century Flushing is a modern town with an ancient city centre. At some distance from the city centre the business area and port of the city are situated, this port being the third largest of the Netherlands after Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

The town of Flushing has 45,000 inhabitants and together with the town of Middelburg it forms the city conglomerate of Vlissingen/Middelburg with 90,000 inhabitants, which is the urban and economic heart of the province of Zeeland. Part of Flushing are the villages of Oost-Souburg (10,000 inhabitants) and Ritthem (600 inhabitants).

The town owes its charm, shape, character and attraction to its position by the sea. Therefore Vlissingen is a lively seaside resort and tourist centre with unique promenades and fine beaches.

Maritime atmosphere
Flushings maritime atmosphere is also determined by shipping and pilot services at the roadstead just off the seafronts, bustle and activity in the docks, the existence of ship's stores and supplies and yachts in the former medieval fishing harbour. But also The Arsenaal and its attractions, the arcade and wind, water and clouds continuously at play… All of these leave their salty marks on the town of Flushing.