Koewachtn  

Provincie Zeeland
Opheffing : 1970 Axel, Hulst
Toevoegingen : -

I : 31 juli 1817

"In goud een koe van keel, staande tussen 3 bomen van sinopel."

A village in the municipality of Axel, but independent until 1970. It registered 204 homes and 1342 people in the 1840 census. Other hamlets within the former municipality were Het Zand and St. Andries.

Some other information concerning Koewacht in Dutch

Koewacht, a village along the Belgium-Dutch border situated in the Southeast of Dutch-East-Flanders.

Thecivic coat-of-arms of Koewacht dates back to 31 July 1817.
In gold a cow of keel, standing among three trees from sinopel. In other words:
In gold a red cow, standing among three green trees on loose pasture.
It is most probably a "speaking" arm. (The picture speaks for itself).

The name existed already before 1590, seen the statement in 1590 to build a fortification called Masereels or Koewagt.
It is situated on the same spot as the Belgian church; the proprietor of the building site was Pieter Masereels.

Lowland along a river was called a "waard", cows  graze there.
In 1648 a spot in the not embanked polder (Rieden and Wildelanden) was named Koyewert.
Cattle had to be guarded and at high water driven to higher grounds.
On such a place buildings were erected for the drivers “watchers” and as Koewacht means “Cow-watching” it is obvious that the name was created here.

 In 1662 this polder was reclaimed. On a map of 1662 an area along the border is called De Coewacht.

In 1750 was the village Koewacht a community with not more then twenty-five houses. (Isaak Tirion, Present situation of Staats Vlaanderen).

In 1744 inhabit 156 families, about 600 people.
In 1828 (Carolus settled in this year) counted Koewacht 1456 residents.
In 1866 live at Koewacht 1875 persons on an area of 2064 hectare (20.64 km^2).
In 1920 the maximum of 2907 villagers was reached.

From 1687the villagers went to church in a chapel just over the border at the older Belgium Koewacht and later to a  church (Roman Catholic) inaugurated in 1714. After closing the border during world-war-1 (1914-1918) in a temporary wooden church has been used and finally in 1922 an own church   was build, the neo-gothic HH Philippus and Jacobus church.
 

Since the new classification of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, 1 April 1970, Koewacht with Overslag and Zuiddorpe are part of the municipality Axel, Koewacht accommodate then 2394 residents.