Zanddijk

The hamlet was probably founded in the first half of the twelfth century when some local farmers went to live on a dike made of sand after which the hamlet was named[1] (Zanddijk literally means Sand dike). By 1153 Zanddijk had become a lordship.[1] In 1247 Hendrik Wisse van Borsele inherited the lordship and had a fort constructed there.[1] Under the Van Borseles Zanddijk grew into a wealthy village.[1] In this Veere was founded on the lordship's territory and quickly grew into a city, overshadowing Zanddijk itself.[1] In 1347 it split off from the lordship.[1] In 1439 parts of Zanddijk were acquired by Veere and in 1574 the rest was put under its control.[1] During the Beeldenstorm its church was damage but not destroyed but soon after it was destroyed anyways.[1] In 1572 Veere went over to the Dutch and provided troops for the Siege of Vlissingen.[1] During the Eighty Years' War, in 1748 it counted only 416 inhabitants.[1] During the Coalition Wars the French built fortifications around the village.[1] In the 1930s its strategic position again saw Zanddijk the location of a line of fortification.[2][3]