The Braakman

The Braakman, derived from Brexem, Breckeme (= weak spot, dike failure, ground break), formed in the 13th century the narrow inlet from the Honte to Biervliet and was undoubtedly little more than a local bank erosion. In the tax roll of 1307, a certain Hugo van der Brecminne is mentioned in this area. Brecminne was certainly a variant of “Breckeme”, the oldest mention of the Braakman. Various writers spoke of the Brakman or Braakman as a moist low area or of marshy grounds with brackish water or fallow land or of wasteland or of an empty marshy area. In 1357, the “Breckeme” was enlarged by storm damage, but it did not yet push deeply into the land. In 1360, this water was referred to as “Brackeman” (Ghent, St. Bavo, Nieuwenbosse, charter of October 27, 1360, sale of a hereditary rent on 1/2 gemet land in the district of Boekhoute and “lying up the Brackeman”). Due to storm surges in 1375, it further pushed into the land and also became much wider. This process continued in the following years and more and more land was lost. What is now Zeelandic Flanders was then still an inseparable part of the county of Flanders. Due to this encroachment, the counts saw their territory continuously decrease.

Brackie