Tholen, Stavenisse, Sint-Annaland

Where Tholen today forms one large island, until the 13th century it consisted of five smaller islands. Through human intervention - impolderings, dikes and dammings - these islands gradually grew together. The struggle against the water however was never far away. Especially in the 16th century Tholen was faced with severe floods. With new impolderings the inhabitants managed time and again to reclaim the land from the sea, although that was often temporary.

During the Second World War the water returned again, this time deliberately. Large parts of Zeeland, including Tholen, were inundated as a military measure. Putting the land under water was meant to hinder advancing troops, but had disastrous consequences for agriculture. The salty sea water made the soil unusable for years. Despite fierce protests from farmers, the inundation continued. In October 1944 the Royal Air Force bombarded the dikes of Walcheren, which elsewhere in Zeeland again released large masses of water.

Hardly recovered from this war misery Zeeland was struck in 1953 by the Flood Disaster. Especially Stavenisse, on the west side of Tholen, was severely hit. Over a length of almost two kilometres the dikes broke through. In the night of 1 February 156 inhabitants lost their lives and countless people became homeless. This disaster formed the direct reason for the Delta Works, which put an end to the continual threat of the sea. At least, for now. A rising sea level makes clear that vigilance remains necessary in the low lying delta area of the Netherlands.

As rough as the past of Tholen sometimes was, so calm and peaceful the island appears today. Along the water it is pleasant to stay and in various places beaches can even be found. Stavenisse has a beach behind the harbour, Sint Maartensdijk a child friendly small beach of about 150 metres long, and also near Sint Annaland there is a clean and accessible beach. Do however stay within the enclosures, because the current in the Oosterschelde can be treacherous.