Borssele

Borssele is a village in the southwestern Netherlands, located in the province of Zeeland. It lies on the coast along the Western Scheldt estuary and is part of the municipality of Borsele. The area is predominantly rural, with agricultural activity and coastal scenery that attract visitors.

The village is best known for the nearby Borssele Nuclear Power Station, the Netherlands’ only nuclear power plant. Construction of the facility began in the late 1960s, and it achieved first criticality in 1973, entering commercial operation soon after. The plant consists of a single pressurized water reactor with a net electrical output of about 485 megawatts. It uses seawater for cooling and is operated by EPZ. The Borssele plant has been a focal point in Dutch energy policy discussions, particularly regarding the role of nuclear power and the future of the country’s energy mix.

Over the years, the operating license for the plant has been extended to enable operation into the 2030s, under the oversight of the Dutch nuclear regulator ANVS. The facility remains subject to safety, environmental and emergency planning requirements. The Borssele site contributes to local employment and regional energy infrastructure, while continuing to be a central element in debates about the Netherlands’ long-term energy strategy.