Heijningen

In 1581, permission was granted by Jan van Wittem, Marquis of Bergen op Zoom, to dike the marshes southwest of the Old Fijnaartpolder and the Ruigenhil Polder. There were setbacks. Fifteen lots had not yet been sold and remained undiked. Moreover, Jan van Wittem took the side of Parma, as a result of which he was declared to have forfeited his possessions. The marquisate of Bergen op Zoom was now awarded to William of Orange, as compensation for previously suffered losses. The prince continued the diking and in 1583 entered into a contract with Gerard van Grammaye, who had already taken an option on several lots, and he had to have completed the diking in 1583 under the penalty of absolute nullity of this contract. The taxes that the owners of the lots had to pay were substantial and intended to fill the war chest: One found themselves in the early stages of the Eighty Years' War. The prince was also allowed to choose a lot in the new land: the Prince's Lot. This was only sold to private individuals in 1802.

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