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Schagen

Schagen
Municipality
Marina in Schagen
Marina in Schagen
Flag of Schagen
Flag
Coat of arms of Schagen
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Schagen in a municipal map of North Holland
Location in North Holland
Coordinates: 52°47′N 4°48′E / 52.783°N 4.800°E / 52.783; 4.800Coordinates: 52°47′N 4°48′E / 52.783°N 4.800°E / 52.783; 4.800
Country Netherlands
Province North Holland
Government
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Marjan van Kampen - Nouwen (CDA)
Area
 • Total 187.28 km2 (72.31 sq mi)
 • Land 167.91 km2 (64.83 sq mi)
 • Water 19.37 km2 (7.48 sq mi)
Elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (May 2014)
 • Total 46,160
 • Density 275/km2 (710/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Schagenaar, Schager
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 1738–1759
Area code 0224, 0226
Website www.schagen.nl

Schagen ([ˈsxaːɣə(n)]) is a city and municipality in the northwestern Netherlands. It is located between Alkmaar and Den Helder, in the region of West Friesland and the province of North Holland. It received city rights in 1415. In 2013, Schagen merged with Zijpe and Harenkarspel. Together they have formed a new municipality, which is also called Schagen. The townhall is located in the main town of Schagen.

Before the merger in 2013 the municipality of Schagen only consisted of the town of Schagen. In 2013 the municipality was extended with neighbouring municipalities. It had a population of 46,160 in 2014 and covers an area of 187.28 km2 (72.31 sq mi).

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 hills. 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.


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