The moniker first appeared in the 19th century; around 1870, a shopkeeper by the name of Valk operated a small store in the community.

During the construction of a new road alongside the village, some evidence of a prehistorical dwelling place was found, probably dating back to the Upper Palaeolithic – Lower Neolithic period.

The centre of the village is at the top of a natural platform; in the middle of this settlement a church was built.

Around the year 1200 a colossal cross-shaped church was built, surrounded by peasant houses and sheds.

They maybe also built the Hospital of the Knights of St. John; excavations in 2009 and 2010 revealed foundations of this ancient building.

When the Templar preceptory was decreasing, the Hospital was increasing in power and wealth (starting from the 14th century).

In 1523, two Sisters in the Third Order of St. Francis started renovating the building, after it was abandoned by the Knights of St. John.

In the year 1540, it was officially declared "Monastery" by Charles V. Another important complex was Zaamslag Castle.

An early excavation in the 19th century found that within this hill there are structures like a tiled room with a small local prison.

A poem remembers this (in old Dutch and in free English translation): Around 1585 prince Maurice of Nassau was conquering the fortresses in the area.

In that year, the village was submerged, for military purposes (the water level was so high that it was impossible to cross it by wading or by boat[clarification needed]).

The current Reformed Church was built in 1898; many local craftsmen were involved in this monumental project.

Traditional local farm sheds have wooden walls, painted in black and decorated with white stripes.

In Zaamslag sheds of this kind are blue; the origin of this habit is not clear, it could be due to a rich family, or old folk beliefs.