Cities in the Netherlands
North Sea Region
The Story of Rockanje
Part of the municipality of Westvoorne, it was independent until 1979. In 1840, there were 1,000 inhabitants, when the municipality also included such hamlets as St. Anna-Polder and Het Schapengors.
Situated right in the middle of some of the country's best dunes and related scenery, it is widely known for its unique, local flora and fauna. Just south of the Maasvlakte and Europoort industrial build-up, the nature reserve Oostvoornse Duinen includes two natural lakes. The village itself is at the southeastern edge of the dunes near the Haringvlietdam, the massive dam-and-locks system built in 1966-1971 as part of the Delta Works.