Schokland

Schokland (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsxɔklɑnt]) is a former island in the Dutch Zuiderzee, in the municipality of Noordoostpolder. Schokland was an elongated strip of peat land which ceased to be an island when the Noordoostpolder was reclaimed from the sea in 1942. It is now just a slightly elevated part of the polder, with a still partly intact retaining wall of the waterfront of Middelbuurt. On 1 April 2014, it had 8 inhabitants,[1] but according to Statistics Netherlands there are five people living on the former island.[2]

Schokland and Surroundings
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The elevation of the former island is clearly visible
LocationNoordoostpolder, Netherlands
CriteriaCultural: iii, v
Reference739
Inscription1995 (19th session)
Area1,306 ha
Websiteschokland.nl/en/
Coordinates52.634183°N 5.777875°E / 52.634183; 5.777875
Location of Schokland in Netherlands
Map of Schokland, June 2015

Schokland was an attractive settlement area in the Middle Ages when it was much larger, but by the 19th century it was under continuous threat of flooding due to the rise in sea level. By then the Schoklanders had retreated to the three most elevated parts: Emmeloord, Molenbuurt, and Middelbuurt. A major flood in 1825 brought massive destruction, and in 1859 the government decided to end permanent settlement on Schokland. The former municipality of Schokland was joined to Kampen on the mainland.

Today Schokland is a popular archeological site and host to the Schokland Museum. Schokland was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Netherlands.

Public transportation

The nearest railway stations are in Kampen and Dronten.

Bus service 682 operates from Kampen and serves Schokland.

  • Church of Schokland at Middelbuurt
  • Church with sea wall
  • Church
  • Glacial erratic. The label on the left stone shows the Dutch for "Stones from Norway".
  • Church ruins at Ens
  • Schokland seen from the north

See also

References
  1. (in Dutch) Feiten en cijfers Archived 2014-04-19 at the Wayback Machine, Municipality of Noordoostpolder
  2. "The Island on Dryland: the Dutch Island of Schokland", Radio Netherlands Archives, February 4, 2001
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