Watershed disaster During a heavy storm and spring tide on the night of 31 January to 1 February 1953, dykes broke in numerous places in the south-west of the Netherlands. The islands of Tholen and Sint Philipsland were also badly…

The village These days it's a hamlet with seven houses, but it was once the centre of an independent municipality. From 1811 to 1816 the manor of Westkerke was a separate municipality, formed from the former manor the same name.…

Origins Scherpenisse is one of the oldest villages on the island. As far back as 1203, a certain Baldewinus is referred to as ‘clericus de Scarpenesse’. This name is probably derived from the Germanic scarpa (sharp or pointed) and nasja…

The great church or Our Lady Church A smaller church had first stood at the site of the current church,. A new church was built in the middle of the 14th century. Only the bottom of the tower remains of…

Harbour Water and shipping have played an important role in the history of Tholen. The Heenetrecht, the current Eendracht, was part of the waterway between Antwerp and Dordrecht. A ‘Kogge’ (cog-built vessel) is depicted on the seals of Tholen.  Tholen…

The first tram line On 17 April 1882, the Stoomtramwegmaatschappij (steam tram company) Bergen op Zoom - Tholen was founded. The line of the same name was opened in September of that year. This tram ran from Bergen to the…

Nieuw-Strijen In 1307, William III, Count of Holland and Zeeland, leased the Strijen salt marsh in the mouth of the Striene to Sir Boudewijn van Ierseke, who in 1310 issued the salt marsh to Willem Aernouts for diking off. The…

Inundation In February 1944, Tholen and Sint Philipsland were inundated at the orders of the German occupiers. Most of the residents were evacuated to other parts of the country. The intention of the Germans was to prevent an allied landing…

1 February The island of Tholen was struck by the floods on 1 February 1953. More than half of it was flooded. Stavenisse was hit the hardest. The seawater flowed in with great violence through 6 breaches in the sea…

Hieronymus van Tuijl van Serooskerke In 1636 the manor of Stavenisse came into the possession of Hieronymus van Tuyll van Serooskerke. He later became lord of Tienhoven, Stavenisse and Sint-Annaland, bailiff of Veere and Statutory Councillor of Zeeland. He married…