St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)

During the night of 18/19 November 1421 a heavy storm near the North Sea coast caused the dikes to break in a number of places and the lower-lying polder land was flooded.

The flood separated the cities of Geertruidenberg and Dordrecht which had previously fought against each other during the Hook and Cod (civil) wars.

Water from the storm in the North Sea surged up the rivers causing the dikes to overflow and break through.

The flood reached a large sea arm between south Holland and Zeeland (or Zealand), destroying the Grote Hollandse Waard.

As the cradle approached the shore, they noticed a cat leaping frantically from one corner to another, desperately maintaining balance.