In 1599, the area was poldered by order Hendrik van Tuyll van Serooskerke. A castle was built between the harbour and the church, but was demolished in 1753, and only a garden with some remnants remain.
The village was first mentioned in 1206 as Stauenesse, and is a combination of headland and wooden pool. The original village developed around the salt marshes were diked in the 11th century.