Staphorst Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Staphorst

Staphorst city hall

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in Overijssel

Staphorst

Location in Overijssel

Staphorst

Location in Netherlands

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

135.69 km² (52.39 sq mi)

• Land

134.22 km² (51.82 sq mi)

• Water

1.47 km² (0.57 sq mi)

Elevation

1 m (3 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

16,396

• Density

122/km² (320/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Staphorstenaar, Staphorster

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

7715, 7950–7955

Area code

0522

Dutch Topographic map of the municipality of Staphorst, June 2015

Staphorst is a town and a municipality located in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is known for its unique history and traditions.

History of Staphorst
Community Life
- Health and Community Choices
- Birth Rates
Villages and Towns in Staphorst
Notable People from Staphorst
- Art and History
- Sports Stars
Images for kids
See also

History of Staphorst

How Staphorst Villages Began

The villages of Staphorst and Rouveen started in the 13th century. Monks began to clear and use the wet, swampy lands. They turned these areas into farmland.

Long Villages and Farm Life

All the farms were built along a long road through the swampy area. This created a very long row of farms. The village of Staphorst-Rouveen became about 11 kilometers (7 miles) long. This type of long village is called lintbebouwing in Dutch, which means "ribbon urbanization." You can see similar villages in other parts of the Netherlands.

Staphorst's Unique Borders

In 1811, the French emperor Napoleon made a special rule. He combined four smaller areas into one larger municipality. This new area included Rouveen, Staphorst, and IJhorst. Since 1818, it has been known as Staphorst. Its borders have stayed almost the same since then, which is quite unusual for Dutch municipalities.

Farm Land Division

A special tradition in Staphorst was how land was divided. After a farmer passed away, his land was often split among his sons. If a son did not inherit the main farmhouse, he would build his own house behind his father's. This led to many pieces of farmland being very long but narrow. For example, some plots might be 1500 meters long but only 40 meters wide.

Traditional Farmhouses

The farms in Staphorst are built in a traditional style called Low Saxon. They often have green doors and window shutters. Most of the farms you see today were built between 1850 and 1910.

Community Life

Staphorst is known for its strong community and traditions. Many people in the village follow strict religious customs. It has one of the highest rates of church attendance in the Netherlands.

Health and Community Choices

In 1971, Staphorst was in the news because of a polio outbreak. Some people in the area choose not to get vaccinated for religious reasons. Because of this, the WHO (World Health Organization) considers Staphorst and similar areas in the Netherlands as places where certain diseases could spread more easily.

Birth Rates

Staphorst has a high birth rate compared to other places in Europe. In 2003, its birth rate was one of the highest in the Netherlands. This means many babies are born there each year.

Villages and Towns in Staphorst

The municipality of Staphorst includes several smaller villages and towns. These are:

Halfweg
Hamingen
IJhorst
Lankhorst
De Leijen
Punthorst
Rouveen
Slingenberg
Staphorst

Notable People from Staphorst

Staphorst has been home to several interesting people, including artists and athletes.

Art and History

Lambertus Johannes Hansen (1803–1859): A Dutch painter.
Tjerk Vermaning (1929–1986): A Dutch amateur archaeologist.
Roelof Bisschop (born 1956): A Dutch historian and politician.

Sports Stars

Marc Houtzager (born 1971): A Dutch show jumping rider who won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Bert Konterman (born 1971): A former professional footballer who played many games for clubs in the Netherlands and Scotland.
Gretha Smit (born 1976): A Dutch former speed skater who won a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics.