It is a part of the municipality of Hulst, and lies about 31 km southwest of Bergen op Zoom.

The village was first mentioned in 1248 as Sancti Ioannis ad Lapidem, and means "stone building dedicated to John the Baptist".

[3] The stone building refers to a castle which has been known to exists since 1170, and contained a chapel dedicated to John the Baptist.

[4] Sint Jansteen was completely demolished on the order of Lt General Pieter de la Rocque, in preparation against the French attack on Hulst during the Austrian Succession War in 1747.

[5] De la Rocque was later arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for his war crimes in Loevestein Castle.