It is a part of the municipality of Tholen, and lies about 22 kilometres (14 mi) west of Bergen op Zoom.

The village was first mentioned in 1206 as Stauenesse, and is a combination of headland and wooden pool.

[3] The original village developed around the salt marshes were diked in the 11th century.

A castle was built between the harbour and the church, but was demolished in 1753, and only a garden with some remnants remain.

There are still 19 wooden emergency houses in the village which were donated by the people of Norway, but one has been moved to the museum in Sint-Annaland.