It is a part of the municipality of Borsele, which has approximately 22,500 inhabitants [1], and lies about 14 km east of Middelburg.

The village was first mentioned in 1351 as Heynekijnssand, and means "sand of Heynekijn (Hendrik)".

The Catholic St Blasius Church was built between 1864 and 1866 on the location of the former Barbestein castle, and has a twin tower.

The estate and park were donated to Het Zeeuwse Landschap [nl] in 1956.

[6] Heinkenszand has steadily been increasing its importance as a tourism destination with holiday park "Stelleplas" and a traditional wooden shoe factory and museum.