St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)

The Second Elisabeth flood ( Dutch Sint Elisabethsvloed ) was a storm surge of 18 to 19 November 1421 which affected the territory of the present Netherlands. The floods have been named at this time by the name days of saints or religious holidays. The first Elisabeth flood in 1404 took place on a 19 November.

In the night from 18 to 19 November, a severe storm from the northwest pushed a lot of water to Zeeland and Holland. The levees broke, 72 villages were flooded and 2,000 to 10,000 people died.

The flood also separated the cities Geertruidenberg and Dordrecht, shortly before were still at war. It is believed, therefore, that the dikes were in poor condition. Dordrecht was after the storm on an island.

After the flood, they were no longer able to dry out the area again. In due course of decades, the broad Hollands Diep and the swamp " Biesbosch " ( "bins forest " ), now a national park.

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