It is a part of the municipality of Schagen and lies about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of Den Helder.

The village was first mentioned in 1770 as "eene herberg, het zand genoemt", and is named after an inn which was colloquially called Zand (sand), but whose official name was 't Wapen van Alkmaar.

[3] 't Zand developed in the northern part of the Zijpe- and Hazepolder which were poldered between 1596 and 1597.

[4] 't Zand developed as a Catholic settlement, because clandestine churches were tolerated in the area.

[4] The church was deemed unstable in 1920, and large buttresses have been built to strengthen the construction.