It is located about 5 km north of Oostburg in the municipality of Sluis.

The village was first mentioned in 1133 as Groede, and means "land accretion".

[3] The oldest village was lost in a flood in 1375.

[5] In 1612, it was a rediked, and a planned settlement with a large square containing the church in the middle was constructed.

[6] The Slijkstraat in the centre of the village was transformed into a Flemish heritage street in 1985.