In the 13th century, Marken was separated from the mainland by a storm and became an island in the Zuiderzee (nowadays IJsselmeer). A period of centuries of isolation followed for the inhabitants, who lived from fishing. Marken was only connected to the mainland by a dike in 1957 and has been a peninsula ever since.

The little village was originally situated on an island. Floods were regular and often disastrous. To limit the damage caused by flooding the Markers have built their houses on mounds. These artificially raised hills are known as werven. In order to make good use of such a werf, the houses were built as close to each other as possible. Of the 27 original werven, 15 remain. Eleven are still inhabited today.