1953, February 1st. A combination of a northwestern storm and spring tide causes the seawater level to rise so high that dikes can not block the water anymore. In some cases water flows over the dikes or breaks through the dikes. In Colijnsplaat is, near the harbor, a gap in the dike to allow easy access from the town to the harbor. This gap can be sealed off through 'flood planks', long wooden beams that keep the water away in case of high tide or storm. Due to this heavy storm these beams and the stone columns, they were fitted in, could not hold the immense strength of the water. The story goes that the people of Colijnsplaat used their own physical strength to keep the beams in place. The local schoolteacher, a tall man, looked over the beams and every time a new wave arrived he shouted 'houen jongens!' ('hold on, guys!'), so the people could brace themselves against the wave. One of three ships that broke their anchorage stranded exactly in front of this gap and saved Colijnsplaat from further disasters. Over 1800 people died in the Netherlands during this tragic event. This monument is placed in memory of this historical event.