A long period of storm pushed the water to unprecedented heights , even higher than those at the flood disaster of 1953 . It broke innumerable dikes on the Dutch coasts , as a result of which there were enormous floods and immense damage . The total number of dead is thought to have been in the tens of thousands , but exact data is not available . Tens of thousands of people became homeless . Livestock was lost in huge numbers . Winter stocks of food and fodder were destroyed . The Allerheiligenvloed marks the origin of the Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe ( '' verdronken '' = " drowned " ) . In Zeeland the small islands Wulpen , Koezand , Cadzand and Stuivezand were permanently lost
flood disaster of 1953
North Sea flood of 1953
All Saints' Flood (1570)