Vrouwenpolder

History

The village was first mentioned in 1338 as "up die polre", and is a reference to the eponymous polder which was created in 1299. Vrouwen is a reference to Mary, mother of Jesus for whom was a chapel built in the village shortly after 1314. The chapel was elevated to parish church in 1324, and became a site of pilgrimage in the 14th century due to presence of a miraculous painting. The medieval church was destroyed in 1572 during the Dutch Revolt, and rebuilt in 1624 as a single aisled Dutch Reformed church with a ridge turret. In 1588, Fort den Haak was built to protect the Veerse Gat. In 1809, the English attacked and conquered the fort, however they were unable to make progress and left again. During the Battle of the Scheldt the land was inundated and Vrouwenpolder was damaged by bombing. 8 November 1944, coastal battery W19 near Vrouwenpolder, the last German stronghold surrendered.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Spoonbill

  Platalea leucorodia Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  28,738
• Eurasian Magpie

  Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  24,744
• Little Egret/Western Reef-Heron

  Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  24,326
• Eurasian Oystercatcher

  Haematopus ostralegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  19,588
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  19,056
• Common Redshank

  Tringa totanus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  18,420
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  17,842
• Common Chiffchaff

  Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  16,802