Municipal information

Schouwen-Duiveland has 34,000 inhabitants. The municipality is completely surrounded by water, stronger: the municipal land (48,894 ha) consists of slightly more water surface (25,791 ha) than dry surface (23,103 ha).

There are two cities on Schouwen-Duiveland: Zierikzee and Brouwershaven. Brouwershaven was referred to as a “narrow city” between the 16th and 18th centuries. This is a Zeeuwse name for seven smaller cities that had city rights, but were not allowed to sit in the States of Zeeland.

The municipality also comprises sixteen villages: Bruinisse, Burgh, Dreischor, Ellemeet, Haamstede, Kerkwerve, Nieuwerkerk, Noordgouwe, Noordwelle, Oosterland, Ouwerkerk, Renesse, Scharendijke, Serooskerke, Sirjansland en Zonnemaire.

You will also find nine more hamlets on Schouwen-Duiveland: Burghsluis, Brijdorpe, Elkerzee, Looperskapelle, Moriaanshoofd, Nieuwerkerke en Westenschouwen.

Schouwen-Duiveland was founded in 1997 from six municipalities: Brouwershaven, Bruinisse, Duiveland, Middenschouwen, Westerschouwen and Zierikzee. The name refers to the islands of Schouwen and Duiveland where the Gouwe ran between the water. A dam was built in 1610 linking the two islands. The town hall is on the edge of Zierikzee.

More municipal information can be found at www.schouwen-duiveland.nl.