Yerseke

History

The site of Yerseke may have been inhabited for more than a millennium, and possibly since before the early Middle Ages. Skeletal remains found in 1923 during an archaeological dig were dated to the Carolingian period (7th to 9th centuries). However, the first historical mention of Yerseke most likely dates to a deed, or charter, issued on January 24, 966 CE under the name of 'Gersika' by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I (the Great). The area was originally property of abbeys in Flanders. The town was founded on a ridge (like many settlements of that era) as dikes were only built in the 13th century by monks. The earliest inhabitants practiced sheep farming and later extracted peat from surrounding moors when dikes were constructed. Agriculture remained the primary activity of the town until the 16th century, when the Saint Felix flood inundated large parts of land around the now lost trading city of Reimerswaal to the east. As a result, Yerseke turned from a landlocked village into one located along the shore of the Eastern Scheldt, which would shape much of its future. While initially the economy of Yerseke remained little changed, fishing and aquaculture rapidly acquired greater importance, along with a concurrent population increase, beginning in the 19th century. The industry had its origins in the nearby hamlet Yersekendam that had a small harbour, and is now amalgamated with the town of Yerseke itself. During World War II the village suffered heavy damage. When Nazi Germany invaded in May 1940, many villagers evacuated due to anticipated fighting along the defensive Zanddijk line, stretching from the village southwards towards Hansweert across Zuid-Beveland. French naval bombardment from the Western Scheldt of German positions along the defensive line and Canal…