It is located in the municipality of Noord-Beveland, Zeeland, about 15 km northeast of Middelburg.

The town was first mentioned in 1247 as Cortkeen, and means "short creek".

[3] Kortgene received city rights in 1431, but disappeared in the floods of 1530 and 1532.

In 1670, the area was given Willem Adriaan van Nassau [nl; de] who poldered the land.

[5] It developed into a recreational centre with marina and villa wards after the 1960s.