De Zijpe has an area of about 100 square kilometres and has about 11,500 inhabitants.
The reclamation of the area for arable farming, combined with rising sea levels, but the area in danger and storm surges in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries created a tidal inlet in this area. In the 16th century, a definitive dyke plan was drawn up to close the dyke in this area again so that the battle against the water could eventually be won here. This former Wadden region was reclaimed in 1597 and today mainly consists of agricultural and natural areas. The Zwanenwater, the Pettemer dunes and the dunes near den Helder and Callantsoog belong to natura 2000 area.