Schagen
Encyclopedia
Schagen is a town and municipality in the northwestern Netherlands
. It is located between Alkmaar
and Den Helder
, in and region of West Friesland
and the province of North Holland
. In 2007, Schagen had 19.078 residents. It received city rights
in 1415.
s. Perhaps the name refers to Scagha to its location above land water: it could mean "elevated point". Some time later, there is a coastline near Schagen. When the sea retreated again at the end of the 13th century the places in the region grew. The land around Schagen was especially fertile, so it grew and remained the main town in the area.
William VI granted in 1415 city rights to the town. In 1427 Philip the Good of Burgundy loaned Schagen to his uncle William of Bronckhorst, one of the seven illegal children of Albrecht of Bavaria
, and to Maria van Bronckhorst. Schagen became a fief with some regional rights in addition to its city rights, including some control over the small towns around Schagen. William ordered the castle in which he lived from 1440. In 1460 the church of Schagen, dedicated to St. Christopher, was consecrated. In 1463 Schagen received the right to hold a cattle market and became a trading town for a wider region. From 1603 an annual horse market was held in Schagen, upon authorization by the States of Holland and Westfriesland.
At the beginning of the Golden Age
Schagen underwent very little growth, unlike other cities in the region: Alkmaar
, Enkhuizen
, Medemblik
, and Hoorn
. Later in the Golden Age the city benefited from the increased prosperity, but never to the degree these other cities enjoyed. Even after the Golden Age growth was limited. Partly due to the reclamation of the surrounding area, Schagen could flourish economically again in the 19th century. In particular, the cattle market played an important role. When in 1865 the railroad between Alkmaar and Den Helder
came into use, the market and home industries flourished. Schagen had about 2060 inhabitants at this time.
In 1894 Schagen was schocked by a double murder, when 17-year old Klaas Boes murdered his 55-year old neighbor and her 17-year old niece. The murder attracted wide national media attention and caused the murderer's mother to commit suicide. In 1895 Klaas Boes was sentenced to life imprisonment
, but this was later changed to 25 years. For years to come, "Klaas Boes" remained a stereotypical name in the Netherlands for youngsters who were up to no good. Newly appointed mayor Simon Berman
headed a committee that would pay 750 guilders, donated by the residents, for the golden tip, conducted several interrogations, and received praise for the way he handled the affair. Klaas Boes was released from prison in 1922 and died in 1956.
During the 20th century prosperity decreased slowly. Especially after the Second World
there was a sharp decline in the agricultural sector. As Schagen did not only depended on agriculture, the decline was less than in surrounding rural communities. Around 1960 Schagen started to flourish again, though population was still below 5,000. The seventies were a large boom for Schagen. In the early nineties, the growth gradually diminished but Schagen remained relatively strong compared to neighboring nuclei and municipalities.
From 2005 to 2007, Schagen resident Johan Huibers built a replica of Noah's Ark
in Schagen. Johan's Ark
was opened to the public in April 2007 and later towed between various port cities in the Netherlands.
In 2007 Schagen proper had about 19,000 inhabitants.
Intercity trains stop, providing good connectivity with Den Helder
to the North and Alkmaar
, Amsterdam
to the South. From Amsterdam Centraal these Intercity trains continue trough Utrecht Centraal either to Eindhoven and Maastricht
or to Arnhem
and Nijmegen. The journey time to Amsterdams Centraal is 1 hour.
The railway station is Schagen's hub for local and regional bus services.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It is located between Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
and Den Helder
Den Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
, in and region of West Friesland
West Friesland (region)
West Friesland is a contemporary region in the northwestern Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The region covers an area of about , delineated by the Westfriese Omringdijk...
and the province of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. In 2007, Schagen had 19.078 residents. It received city rights
City rights in the Netherlands
City rights are a medieval phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. A liegelord, usually a count, duke or similar member of high nobility, granted a settlement he owned certain town privileges that settlements without city rights did not have....
in 1415.
History
Schagen has been mentioned in various texts from around 975. One of them was a population count that found that 43 people were living there. Schagen was also mentioned in documents as Scagha from around 989. At this time Schagen was a center of artificial dwelling hillArtificial dwelling hill
An artificial dwelling hill is a mound, created to provide safe ground during high tide and river floods....
s. Perhaps the name refers to Scagha to its location above land water: it could mean "elevated point". Some time later, there is a coastline near Schagen. When the sea retreated again at the end of the 13th century the places in the region grew. The land around Schagen was especially fertile, so it grew and remained the main town in the area.
William VI granted in 1415 city rights to the town. In 1427 Philip the Good of Burgundy loaned Schagen to his uncle William of Bronckhorst, one of the seven illegal children of Albrecht of Bavaria
Albrecht of Bavaria
*Albert I, Duke of Bavaria*Albert V, Duke of Bavaria *Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria*Albert II, Duke of Bavaria...
, and to Maria van Bronckhorst. Schagen became a fief with some regional rights in addition to its city rights, including some control over the small towns around Schagen. William ordered the castle in which he lived from 1440. In 1460 the church of Schagen, dedicated to St. Christopher, was consecrated. In 1463 Schagen received the right to hold a cattle market and became a trading town for a wider region. From 1603 an annual horse market was held in Schagen, upon authorization by the States of Holland and Westfriesland.
At the beginning of the Golden Age
Golden Age
The term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...
Schagen underwent very little growth, unlike other cities in the region: Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
, Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.Enkhuizen was one of the harbour-towns of the VOC, just like Hoorn and Amsterdam, from where overseas trade with the East Indies was conducted. It received city rights in 1355...
, Medemblik
Medemblik
Medemblik is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.- History :...
, and Hoorn
Hoorn
-Cities :* Purmerend * Enkhuizen * Alkmaar * Amsterdam * Lelystad * Den Helder * Leeuwarden -Towns :* Edam...
. Later in the Golden Age the city benefited from the increased prosperity, but never to the degree these other cities enjoyed. Even after the Golden Age growth was limited. Partly due to the reclamation of the surrounding area, Schagen could flourish economically again in the 19th century. In particular, the cattle market played an important role. When in 1865 the railroad between Alkmaar and Den Helder
Den Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
came into use, the market and home industries flourished. Schagen had about 2060 inhabitants at this time.
In 1894 Schagen was schocked by a double murder, when 17-year old Klaas Boes murdered his 55-year old neighbor and her 17-year old niece. The murder attracted wide national media attention and caused the murderer's mother to commit suicide. In 1895 Klaas Boes was sentenced to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
, but this was later changed to 25 years. For years to come, "Klaas Boes" remained a stereotypical name in the Netherlands for youngsters who were up to no good. Newly appointed mayor Simon Berman
Simon Berman
Simon Berman was the mayor of Kwadijk, Middelie, Warder, Schagen, Bedum, and Alblasserdam in the Netherlands. He was the first mayor of Kwadijk, Middelie, and Warder to actually live in one of these villages...
headed a committee that would pay 750 guilders, donated by the residents, for the golden tip, conducted several interrogations, and received praise for the way he handled the affair. Klaas Boes was released from prison in 1922 and died in 1956.
During the 20th century prosperity decreased slowly. Especially after the Second World
Second World
The term "Second World" is a phrase used to describe those countries which are allied with or are supported by the "First World" countries . These include countries supported by the United States, such as Colombia, Israel, etc., and those supported by the former Soviet Union, also known as the the...
there was a sharp decline in the agricultural sector. As Schagen did not only depended on agriculture, the decline was less than in surrounding rural communities. Around 1960 Schagen started to flourish again, though population was still below 5,000. The seventies were a large boom for Schagen. In the early nineties, the growth gradually diminished but Schagen remained relatively strong compared to neighboring nuclei and municipalities.
From 2005 to 2007, Schagen resident Johan Huibers built a replica of Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a vessel appearing in the Book of Genesis and the Quran . These narratives describe the construction of the ark by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the world's animals from the worldwide deluge of the Great Flood.In the narrative of the ark, God sees the...
in Schagen. Johan's Ark
Johan's Ark
Johan's Ark or Ark van Johan is a reconstruction of Noah's Ark built by Dutch creationist Johan Huibers. The replica is half the length of that given in the Bible, 150 cubits or 70 metres. Johan's model is 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide...
was opened to the public in April 2007 and later towed between various port cities in the Netherlands.
In 2007 Schagen proper had about 19,000 inhabitants.
Transportation
At Schagen railway stationSchagen railway station
Schagen is a railway station in Schagen, the Netherlands. The station opened on the 20th December 1865. The station is on the Den Helder–Amsterdam railway, between Den Helder and Heerhugowaard. The trainstation has 3 platforms. The traintrack between Schagen and Den Helder is single track and...
Intercity trains stop, providing good connectivity with Den Helder
Den Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
to the North and Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
to the South. From Amsterdam Centraal these Intercity trains continue trough Utrecht Centraal either to Eindhoven and Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
or to Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
and Nijmegen. The journey time to Amsterdams Centraal is 1 hour.
The railway station is Schagen's hub for local and regional bus services.
Municipal council
The municipal council of Schagen consists of 17 seats, which are divided as follows:- PvdALabour Party (Netherlands)The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
- 5 seats - VVDPeople's Party for Freedom and DemocracyThe People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
- 5 seats - CDAChristian Democratic AppealThe Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
- 3 seats - Socialist PartySocialist Party (Netherlands)The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
- 2 seats - Duurzaam Schagen - 2 seats
External links
- City Site (English)
- A map of Schagen (Dutch)
- A map of the entire municipality (Dutch)