Zeeland
provinceswavybluewhite
The flag of Zeeland features horizontal wavy blue and white stripes representing the sea and the province's island geography, with the provincial coat of arms in the centre. The arms depict a lion emerging from waves — half-visible, half-submerged — symbolising Zeeland's eternal struggle against the sea. The Latin motto 'Luctor et Emergo' ('I struggle and emerge') encapsulates the province's identity. This powerful image of a lion rising from the waters makes Zeeland's flag one of the most symbolically rich in the Netherlands.
Zeeland gave its name to New Zealand — Dutch explorer Abel Tasman named it 'Nieuw Zeeland' after the Dutch province when he arrived in 1642.
Adopted: 1949
