Located 3.7km northeast of Oranjestad's Fort Oranje, Zeelandia Bay takes its name from Statia’s first Dutch settlers, who hailed from Zeeland province in the Netherlands. Its dark-sand beach is not ideal for swimming; the Atlantic side of the island is turbulent and there are dangerous currents and undertows, with several drownings occurring here in recent years. Despite the winds, it is a reasonable beach for sunbathing or strolling, however, especially southeast toward the cliffs.
From April to October, the volcanic sands are an important nesting site for several species of endangered turtles: the green turtle, leatherback, loggerhead and hawksbill. Volunteers can often be spotted tagging them.