Neeltje Jans
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. Another addition of the island is a nature reserve.
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.
- It could be named after a goddess of the sea, Nehalennia.
The second stage of the 2015 Tour de France finished on Neeltje Jans on 5 July 2015.