Its soil is very fertile and agriculture is a major part of its economy; crops grown include onions, potatoes, and a variety of fruits (mainly apples).

Only in Minnertsga (which did not become a part of the municipality of Het Bildt until 1984) is West Frisian the predominant language.

The name Het Bildt is formed out of the word opbilden which means the silting up of land.

Earlier it extended still further, all the way to the Zuiderzee (now het IJsselmeer) and Westergoa was an Island only accessible by boat.

As a result, the area south of this dike was no longer subject to the effects of tides and the parts that weren't already dry became solid land.

The brothers started the project in 1505 but in the years that followed the dykes they had laid could still not prevent the tides from flooding the land.

After receiving money from George of Saxony and hiring the help of two nobles, misters Davelaer and Bontemantel, they accomplished the immense task of dyking the area properly.

The area was mathematically planned and consists of straight, parallel roads pointing from south to north or east to west.

George of Saxony was unable to suppress the revolts of the Schieringers and Gelderschen (who formed a pact) and in 1514 he was required to hand over the whole Bildt area to the Count of Holland and Zeeland, with the permission of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor.

When the "Republic of the Seven United Netherlands" fought and freed itself from Spain, Het Bildt became the 29th county of Friesland.