Hulst () is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality ...
and
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be de ...
in southwestern
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
in the east of
Zeelandic Flanders
Zeelandic Flanders ( ; zea, Zeêuws-Vlaonderen; vls, Zêeuws-Vloandern)''Vlaanderen'' in isolation: . is the southernmost region of the province of Zeeland in the south-western Netherlands. It lies south of the Western Scheldt that separates ...
.
History

Hulst received
city rights in the 12th century.
Hulst
was captured from the Spanish in 1591 by
Maurice of Orange
Maurice of Orange ( nl, Maurits van Oranje; 14 November 1567 – 23 April 1625) was ''stadtholder'' of all the provinces of the Dutch Republic except for Friesland from 1585 at the earliest until his death in 1625. Before he became Prince o ...
but
was recaptured by
Archduke Albert in 1596.
In 1640, the Dutch forces tried to conquer the city, but they were defeated in battle by the
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land Army) is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies — dating back to the late 15th century.
The ...
, and
Frederick Henry was forced to retreat.
In 1645, the
Siege of Hulst (to control the left bank of the Schelde river) occurred. It was led by
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange (or Princess of Orange if the holder is female) is a title originally associated with the sovereign Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France and subsequently held by sovereigns in the Netherlands.
The title ...
Frederick Henry, during the
Eighty Years' War
The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt ( nl, Nederlandse Opstand) ( c.1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Re ...
(1568–1648) with
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
.
A further siege took place in 1702, where General
Menno van Coehoorn defended the town successfully for the Dutch and in 1747 when it was taken by the French after incompetent defence by Lt. General Pieter de la Rocque.
In the seventeenth century, a
star fort was constructed.
[Geschiedenis van Hulst]
. Hulst Vestingstad
The fortifications, constructed during that time, are historic examples of Dutch fortress architecture.
The name Hulst (Holly in English) would appear to come from the shape of the battlements. Holly is depicted growing around the towns crest.
Geography

Hulst is located at in the south of the province of
Zeeland
, nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge")
, anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandic Anthem")
, image_map = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg
, map_alt =
, m ...
in the southwest of the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
. It is situated in the east of the region
Zeelandic Flanders
Zeelandic Flanders ( ; zea, Zeêuws-Vlaonderen; vls, Zêeuws-Vloandern)''Vlaanderen'' in isolation: . is the southernmost region of the province of Zeeland in the south-western Netherlands. It lies south of the Western Scheldt that separates ...
, which is connected by land only to
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
, on the Dutch-Belgian border.
Hulst is neighbouring the municipalities of
Terneuzen in the west,
Stekene (Belgium) and
Sint-Gillis-Waas (B) in the south,
Beveren
Beveren () is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders which comprises the towns of Beveren, Doel, Haasdonk, Kallo, Kieldrecht, Melsele, Verrebroek and Vrasene.
The port of the Waasland (Dutch: ''Waaslandhaven'') is in ...
(B) in the east, and
Reimerswaal The name Reimerswaal () can mean:
*Reimerswaal (city) A lost city in the Netherlands
**Verdronken Land van Reimerswaal The now-drowned land around the city
** Battle of Reimerswaal on 29 January 1574 during the Eighty Years' War
*Reimerswaal (munic ...
in the north. The river
Western Scheldt separates the land of Reimerswaal and Hulst.
The Drowned Land of
Saeftinghe (Verdronken land van Saeftinghe) is a natural reserve in the north of the municipality. Its name refers to the
Saeftinghe legend.
The population centers in the municipality are:
Government
The
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as ...
of Hulst is Jan-Frans Mulder of the
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal ( nl, Christen-Democratisch Appèl, ; CDA) is a Christian-democratic political party in the Netherlands. It was originally formed in 1977 from a confederation of the Catholic People's Party, the Anti-Revolutiona ...
.
Culture
Since June 2018, the city has its own letter artwork (a local variation on the capital's ''I Amsterdam''). This work of art can be seen in turns at various locations in the municipality. The underlying idea is that the h at the beginning of a word is not pronounced in the
Zeelandic / East Flemish dialect. By combining the letters n and h (in white and green) you can read the text in addition to . Under this concept , a campaign for and branding of the city of Hulst was launched simultaneously.

''Letter artwork for the city of Hulst''
International relations
Hulst is twinned with
Notable people

*
Johannes Crabbe
Johannes Crabbe ( 1420 – 1 November 1488) was abbot of Ten Duinen Abbey in present-day Belgium, an imperial counsellor and bibliophile.
Johannes Crabbe was born in a middle-class family in Hulst. He made a career within the Catholic church, ent ...
(c. 1420–1 November 1488),
abbot
Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. Th ...
, Imperial counsellor and
bibliophile
Bibliophilia or bibliophilism is the love of books. A bibliophile or bookworm is an individual who loves and frequently reads and/or collects books.
Profile
The classic bibliophile is one who loves to read, admire and collect books, often ama ...
.
*
Cornelius Jansen
Cornelius Jansen (, ; Latinized name Cornelius Jansenius; also Corneille Jansen; 28 October 1585 – 6 May 1638) was the Dutch Catholic bishop of Ypres in Flanders and the father of a theological movement known as Jansenism.
Biography
He wa ...
(1510 in Hulst – 1576) was a Catholic exegete and the first
Bishop of Ghent
The Diocese of Ghent (Latin: ''Dioecesis Gandavensis'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Belgium. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels ...
*
Gillis Mostaert ''(the Elder)'' (1528 in Hulst – 1598) a Flemish Renaissance painter and draughtsman
*
(1528 in Hulst – 1560) a Flemish Renaissance painter specializing in landscape paintings
*
Valentin de Lannoy
Valentin de Lannoy was a Flemish military commander and Knight of the Golden Fleece.
Family
He was the younger son of Jacques de Lannoy, Lord of la Motterie and brother of Claude de Lannoy, 1st Count of la Motterie. He founded the Branch of the ...
a Flemish military commander and governor of Hulst in 1623
*
Cornelis de Vos
Cornelis de Vos (1584 – 9 May 1651) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and art dealer. He was one of the leading portrait painters in Antwerp and is best known for his sensitive portraits, in particular of children and families. He was ...
(1584 in Hulst – 1651) a Flemish painter, draughtsman and art dealer
*
Paul de Vos (ca.1591/92 in Hulst – 1678) a Flemish Baroque painter of animals, hunting scenes and still lifes
*
Pieter Nuyts
Pieter Nuyts or Nuijts (born 1598 – 11 December 1655) was a Dutch explorer, diplomat and politician.
He was part of a landmark expedition of the Dutch East India Company in 1626–27 which mapped the southern coast of Australia. He became ...
(1598 in Middelburg – 1655) a Dutch explorer, diplomat and politician
*
Pieter Nuyts
Pieter Nuyts or Nuijts (born 1598 – 11 December 1655) was a Dutch explorer, diplomat and politician.
He was part of a landmark expedition of the Dutch East India Company in 1626–27 which mapped the southern coast of Australia. He became ...
(1640 in Middelburg – 1709) a Dutch poet and dramatist
*
Theo Middelkamp (1914 in Nieuw-Namen – 2005) a Dutch cyclist, world champion in 1947
Gallery
File:Cornelis de Vos - View of Hulst.jpg, ''View of Hulst'' painted in 1628 by Cornelis de Vos
Cornelis de Vos (1584 – 9 May 1651) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and art dealer. He was one of the leading portrait painters in Antwerp and is best known for his sensitive portraits, in particular of children and families. He was ...
File:Hulst, de Gentse Poort in straatzicht RM22736 foto4 2013-05-06 14.05.jpg, Gate (de Gentse Poort)
File:Hulst, straatzicht Gentsestraat foto2 2013-05-06 14.08.jpg, View to a street: de Gentsestraat
File:HulstOude huizen.JPG, Historical houses
File:HulstMonument1.JPG, Monument on the defensive rampart
Rampart may refer to:
* Rampart (fortification), a defensive wall or bank around a castle, fort or settlement
Rampart may also refer to:
* "O'er the Ramparts We Watched" is a key line from "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the ...
of Hulst
File:Als de vos1.JPG, Artwork by Kris Ferket
File:Hulst - Refugium Ten Duinen 1.jpg, The museum De Vier Ambachten, former refugium of the Abbey Our Lady Ten Duinen
File:HulstRavelijn.JPG, Hulst Ravelijn
References
External links
Official website(in Dutch)
{{Authority control
Cities in the Netherlands
Municipalities of Zeeland
Populated places in Zeeland
Zeelandic Flanders