▁called ▁the ▁Slo e . ▁The ▁Slo ed am ▁was ▁constructed ▁in ▁ 1 8 7 1 ▁for ▁the ▁railway ▁connection ▁between ▁the ▁towns ▁of ▁Fl ushing ▁and ▁Ro os enda al , ▁the ▁so - called ▁Ze euw se ▁L ijn ▁( Ze aland ic ▁Line ). ▁After ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁the ▁areas ▁to ▁the ▁south ▁of ▁the ▁dam ▁were ▁pol der ed . ▁Since ▁the ▁Ve er se ▁G at ▁est u ary ▁was ▁closed ▁off ▁by ▁the ▁Ve er se ▁G at dam ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 1 , ▁the ▁Slo ed am ▁no ▁longer ▁functions ▁as ▁a ▁primary ▁defense ▁against ▁the ▁sea . ▁ ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁During ▁World ▁War ▁II , ▁two ▁batt les ▁were ▁fought ▁on ▁and ▁around ▁the ▁Slo ed am . ▁ ▁Battle ▁of ▁Ze eland ▁▁ ▁In ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁the ▁area ▁was ▁cont ested ▁during ▁the ▁German ▁invasion ▁of ▁the ▁Low ▁Count ries ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Ze eland . ▁A ▁combined ▁French - D utch ▁force ▁under ▁brig ad ier - general ▁Marcel ▁Des la ur ens ▁attempted ▁to ▁stop ▁the ▁German ▁invasion , ▁but ▁was ▁un success ful . ▁ ▁Battle ▁of ▁Wal ch eren ▁C ause way ▁▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 4 - 1 9 4 5 , ▁heavy ▁fighting ▁came ▁to ▁the ▁area ▁when ▁the ▁Al lies ▁attempted ▁to ▁clear ▁the ▁Western ▁Sch eld t , ▁entrance ▁to ▁the ▁har bor ▁of ▁Ant wer pen . ▁After ▁heavy ▁fighting , ▁Ze