Zuid

Zuid is the Dutch word for south. In Dutch geography and toponymy, Zuid is used to designate southern parts of cities, regions, or administrative areas, and appears both as a stand-alone name and as part of compound place names.

Notable uses include Amsterdam-Zuid, a major southern district of Amsterdam. Located south of the city center, Amsterdam-Zuid encompasses a mix of residential neighborhoods, cultural institutions, and commercial areas. The adjacent Old South (Oud-Zuid) and the Museum Quarter are prominent subareas within the broader southern zone and contribute to the area’s cultural and economic profile.

In Rotterdam, Kop van Zuid (Head of Zuid) refers to a waterfront district along the Nieuwe Maas opposite the city center. This area has undergone extensive redevelopment, combining high-rise office buildings, residential towers, and cultural venues, and is linked to the city’s core by bridges and public transit.

Zuid is also an element in the name of Zuid-Holland, a province on the western coast of the Netherlands. The province’s name literally means South Holland, reflecting its geographic position relative to the historical counties that formed the Netherlands.

Overall, Zuid functions primarily as a geographic descriptor in Dutch toponymy, signaling southern zones within municipalities or larger regions. Its use illustrates how Dutch cities partition their space into defined southern areas, often with distinct identities and development patterns.