St. Elizabeth's Flood

The Changing St. Elizabeth's Flood

In the night of 18 to 19 November 1421, a large part of the
the Biesbosch and (at the time) the Land of Altena. Above
60 villages disappeared from the map in one night and thousands of people
were killed. The name Elisabethsvloed comes from the Catholic
custom that is associated with a saint every day; Therefore, it was
the flood is called St. Elizabeth's Flood. Because of this flood
the Biesbosch was born. It was not until centuries later that the technology and the
means to combat the water in a somewhat
on an equal footing. At the end of 1800, the Maas and Waal rivers were separated
and the mouth of the Meuse into the Amer will be shifted. Several
Windmills take care of the water management in the area itself. Some
of the mills has been preserved and can be visited on Saturdays.

The last flood in 1953

The storm surge of 1953 is the last actual flood
Been there. Hank, Dussen, Nieuwendijk, Almkerk and Werkendam
the hardest hit. The damage and loss of life is
not as big as in South Holland and Zeeland, but the fear is there
no less. Measures taken against flooding
also have an impact on the Biesbosch. With the conclusion of the
the Haringvliet, the tide is taken away and the Biesbosch changes
from brackish tidal area to a freshwater area.

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