Schokland was an elongated strip of peat land which ceased to be an island when the Noordoostpolder was reclaimed from the sea in 1942.

On 1 April 2014, it had 8 inhabitants,[1] but according to Statistics Netherlands there are five people living on the former island.

By the 19th century, it was under continuous threat of flooding due to the rise in sea level.

By then the Schoklanders had retreated to the three most elevated parts: Emmeloord, Molenbuurt, and Middelbuurt.

A major flood in 1825 brought massive destruction, and in 1859 the government decided to end permanent settlement on Schokland.