[5] Before the poldering of the lakes and when Wiuwert was located along the former Middelzee, it was a thriving fishing village which was described to have contained more than 180 houses.

[6] In 1866, part of the terp was excavated and a hoard of 39 golden objects was discovered, including one of the tremisses of Audulf of Frisia.

The original settlers included the famed poet, painter and scholar Anna van Schurman, who died in Wieuwerd in 1678.

One member, Hendrik van Deventer,[9] skilled in chemistry and medicine, set up a laboratory at the house and treated many people, including Christian V, the King of Denmark.

One was Sophie of Hanover, mother of King George I of Great Britain; another was William Penn, the Quaker pioneer, who gave his name to the US state of Pennsylvania; a third was the English philosopher John Locke.

The basement of the Nicolas Church of Wiuwert houses four natural mummies dating back to the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Contributing factors such as the constant low temperature, high humidity and continuous airflow have been mentioned, but never proven.