Kats, Village in Noord-Beveland, Zeeland, Netherlands
Kats is a small village in the southeastern part of Noord-Beveland, in the province of Zeeland. It sits just above sea level and is surrounded by flat fields and waterways shaped by centuries of land reclaimed from the sea.
The village is first recorded in 1204 as Chats, and in the Middle Ages it was known as Suburchdijke, suggesting an early link to nearby Souburg. A severe storm flood in 1530 killed around 150 residents, and a second flood in 1532 destroyed most remaining structures before the village was rebuilt and expanded through land reclamation starting in 1598.
The village is easy to explore on foot, and the main street running from the old harbor area toward the church is a good starting point. The flat land around it makes cycling through the polders and along the nearby waterways a natural way to see more of the area.
The name Kats most likely comes from a medieval family called Caths, mentioned in a document from 1209 who may have once owned the land. By 1629, the village had only twenty houses and a single mill, showing just how slowly it rebuilt after the floods of the previous century.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
