Schokland
Encyclopedia
Schokland is a former island in the Dutch
Zuiderzee. Schokland lost its status as an island when the Noordoostpolder was reclaimed from the sea in 1942. The remains are still visible as a slightly elevated part in the polder
and by the still partly intact retaining wall
of the waterfront of 'Middelbuurt'.
As a result from the increasing sea-level Schokland transformed from an attractive settlement area in the Middle Ages
to a place under continuous threat by floods in the 19th century. By that time 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
.
and Lelystad
.
Bus service 682 operates from Kampen and serves Schokland.
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...
Zuiderzee. Schokland lost its status as an island when the Noordoostpolder was reclaimed from the sea in 1942. The remains are still visible as a slightly elevated part in the polder
Polder
A polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments known as dikes, that forms an artificial hydrological entity, meaning it has no connection with outside water other than through manually-operated devices...
and by the still partly intact retaining wall
Retaining wall
Retaining walls are built in order to hold back earth which would otherwise move downwards. Their purpose is to stabilize slopes and provide useful areas at different elevations, e.g...
of the waterfront of 'Middelbuurt'.
As a result from the increasing sea-level Schokland transformed from an attractive settlement area in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
to a place under continuous threat by floods in the 19th century. By that time 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
Kampen (Overijssel)
Kampen is a municipality, a city and an old Hanseatic city at the lower reaches of the river IJssel in the Dutch province of Overijssel.The municipality of Kampen counts 50,073 inhabitants in an area of approximately 162 km² . Kampen is located in the North West of Overijssel and is the...
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
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...
.
Public transportation
The nearest railway stations are in KampenKampen railway station
Kampen is a terminus railway station located in Kampen, the Netherlands. The station was opened on 10 May 1865 and is located on the Kamperlijntje, which is the Zwolle - Kampen section of the Utrecht–Kampen railway. The train service is operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen...
and Lelystad
Lelystad Centrum railway station
Lelystad Centrum is the current terminus railway station on the Flevolijn. It is the only station in Lelystad and is in the centre of the town. The station was opened on 28 May 1988 after the extension from Almere Buiten was completed. There are plans to build the station Lelystad Zuid by 2015. The...
.
Bus service 682 operates from Kampen and serves Schokland.
External links
- Schokland
- http://www.unigeo.dk/faglig/semester5/Holland/How-Schokland-came-to-be-as-it-is.doc
- Enjoy 360º panoramas of Schokland on 360cities.net