‘Ofter gheen water op en hadde gheweest’ – Narratives of Resilience on the Dutch Coast in the Seventeenth Century

Abstract

inundations and floods were part of the everyday experiences of early modern coastal societies. While much scholarly research has focused on the immediate reactions to the seemingly extraordinary inundations, this article argues, that an investigation of the long-term perspective of flood accounts, beyond the much studied discourses of ministers, magistrates and engineers might reveal a different, but perhaps more typical response to these disasters. the discourse of resilience and stoical attention to business as usual adds an additional dimension to modern society's scripts of disaster management. KEYWORDS resilience, floods, regional chorographies Introduction: a long-term perspective of water and floods In Vlissingen a part of a tower was flooded and the city wall broke in the middle, so that the water could inundate the land, but shortly afterwards it was diked again. The Westcapelle dike broke at several places, but it was shortly afterwards repaired. Around Veere in the North of Walcheren, the dike broke in two places, but thanks to the diligence of the Sir Adolf of Burgundy, Lord of Beveren the land was reclaimed within three or four days. […] Wolffaertsdijk was inundated at several places, and the dikes were broken in many places, but it was worst in Sluys, nevertheless, the land was diked again during the same winter. 1

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