On the night of November 18–19, 1421, a powerful storm surge from the North Sea broke through poorly maintained dikes in the County of Holland (now the Netherlands), causing one of the deadliest and most catastrophic floods in Dutch history. The disaster — known as the St. Elizabeth's Flood of 1421 because it occurred on the feast day of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary (then observed on November 19) — inundated the Grote Waard, a vast polder of fertile farmland, drowning dozens of villages and thousands of people.
The flood permanently changed the geography of the region. The city of Dordrecht became an island and, for decades, could only be reached by water. More significantly, it lost its status as the capital of Holland. Much of the flooded land was never fully reclaimed and eventually became part of the Biesbosch wetlands.
Scene of destruction during St. Elisabeth's flood of 17-18 November 1421, from Matthys Balen Jansz's book “Beschryvinge der stad Dordrecht”. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Grote Waard (also known as the Hollandsche Waard) was an agricultural region in Holland, along the northern border of North Brabant. It came into existence in 1283, after the damming of the river Meuse at Heusden and Maasdam, and the completion of a surrounding ring dyke. The area, situated north of the Merwede riverbed clay layers, was low-lying and prone to storms and river floods. As a result, maintaining the dykes was a vital responsibility of the local villagers and farmers.
However, internal rivalries and wars between the cities led to the neglect of this essential task. Compounding the problem, people dug deep wells on both sides of the sea dykes to extract peat, which they burned to produce salt. These wells weakened the structural integrity of the dykes.
Shortly before the catastrophic flood, on October 16, 1421, a dispute between the Hooks and the Cods over salt extraction was settled, with the conclusion that the wells posed no threat to the safety of the dykes. Yet, barely a month later, the sea broke through the weakened dykes near Broeck, and an unprecedented disaster befell the once-prosperous Hollandsche Waard.
That evening, a powerful extratropical cyclone battered the coasts of Holland and Zeeland. Water from the storm surged up the rivers from the North Sea, causing the dikes to overflow and collapse. The sea arm known as the Hollands Diep was formed, and much of the Hollandsche Waard disappeared beneath the waves. The entire Grote Waard was flooded. The northern and southern parts of the area were separated by water — a region now known as the Biesbosch — along with the Island of Dordrecht, the eastern part of the Hoeksche Waard, and portions of North Brabant.
Satellite image of the flood affected region today. Credit: NASA
In total, 72 villages, hamlets, and monasteries were swept away by the floodwaters, and between 2,000 and 10,000 people lost their lives.
A famous folk story connected to the flood tells of a floating cradle rescued by villagers, with a sleeping baby and a cat inside. When found, the cat was leaping frantically from one corner of the cradle to another, desperately trying to keep it balanced. It turned out, the cat's acrobatics managed to keep the crib upright, preventing it from overturning and thus saving the baby. This story became part of Dutch folklore and symbolized hope amid disaster.
As a result of the flood, the former Hollandsche Waard — the area between Dordrecht and Geertruidenberg — was transformed into an immense expanse of water known as the Biesbosch. Soon after the disaster, efforts were made to reclaim the lost land, and the dikes were repaired. However, another storm surge three years later destroyed much of the progress. Eventually, it was decided to abandon the Grote Waard to its fate.
In the decades following the Great Flood, the Grote Waard gradually transformed into the Biesbosch. Rivers changed course, and silt deposits formed sandbars and marshes. The city of Dordrecht became an island, completely surrounded by rivers — the Merwede, Meuse, Dordtsche Kil, and Hollands Diep.
“The Inundation of The Biesbosch” in 1421 by Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Today the region is a mix of farmland, towns, and —most notably— the Biesbosch National Park, a crucial area for both nature conservation and Dutch water management. The western parts, near Dordrecht, were eventually reclaimed and are used for agriculture and settlement. The eastern and southern parts became the Biesbosch wetlands, now a protected national park known for its unique freshwater tidal system, creeks, willow forests, and wildlife. The area is sparsely populated and heavily managed for both ecological and hydrological purposes.
The Biesbosch and surrounding region play a vital role in the modern Dutch water defence system, particularly with flood protection. After the Delta Works were built, the Biesbosch became an important buffer to control river discharges. It functions as a controlled inundation zone— part of the strategy called Room for the River, allowing certain areas to flood safely instead of risking populated regions. The region helps regulate freshwater supplies to large parts of South Holland and Brabant. Additionally, the wetlands now serve as a habitat for birds, beavers and many aquatic species.
Reference:
# L.C. Greets. “The St. Elizabeth flood (November 18, 1421) or the collapse of the Hollandsche Waard,”
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