Neeltje Jans is an artificial island in the Netherlands in the province of
Zeeland, halfway between Noord-Beveland and Schouwen-Duiveland in the
Oosterschelde.
It was constructed to facilitate the construction of the Oosterscheldedam.
After the construction, a fun park with attractions and other various
expositions were built on the island, which are now connected to the shore
through the dam.
The island was named after a nearby sand bank. The name of this sandbank has two
possible origins:
- It could be named after a boat with the name Neeltje Jans, stranded on the
sandbank. Neeltje is a Dutch first name Jans is a familiar surname (meaning a
son or daughter of Jan).
-It could be named after a goddess of the sea, Nehalennia.
