In 1000 CE, this area was dry land. It became a
flood plain after storms in 1100 CE. Wieringmeer means "
Wieringen Lake", the name of an inland lake that filled the area in the early
medieval period. The Wieringmeerpolder is a
polder, newly created land, and part of the
Zuiderzee Works developed in the 20th century. Construction began in 1927, earlier than planned, due to a severe lack of agricultural land. The dikes had to be strong enough to withstand the force of the
Zuiderzee. Draining of the polder was finished on 21 August 1930. After completion of the
Afsluitdijk in 1932, lake
IJsselmeer was formed from the waters. and keeps the polder dry. After desalinization, the new land became usable in 1934. Four villages (Slootdorp (1931), Middenmeer (1933), Wieringerwerf (1936) and Kreileroord (1957)), were established there. On 1 July 1941, the Wieringermeer became an independent municipality. On 17 April 1945, during the
Second World War, the German occupiers ordered the dike of the Wieringermeer to be blown up: the
area was inundated. No one was killed as the polder slowly submerged again (the inhabitants had been warned), but the high water and a subsequent storm destroyed most of the infrastructure built in the previous decade. The floodwater was
fresh water, so the land did not have to be
desalinated again. Reconstruction followed quickly; by the end of 1945, the polder was declared drained again. Rebuilding of roads and bridges, houses and farms, was greatly facilitated by the experience of building them the first time. == Local government ==