Ouwerkerk is the oldest village of the former island of Duiveland, possibly founded in the eleventh century.

During the North Sea flood of 1953 Ouwerkerk was hit hard: one in six residents died.

In 2003, at the 50th anniversary of the North Sea flood of 1953, Queen Beatrix visited Ouwerkerk.

West of the museum (southwest of the village) are Ouwerkerk's beaches on Easter Scheldt.

In 1940 an association football club, SV Ouwerkerk, was established in the village.