Considering a move, or perhaps a demolition? That was the question hanging over De Stolpen not so long ago. De Stolpen is a small hamlet in North Holland. It is part of the municipality of Schagen. It sits about 3 km northwest of Schagerbrug.
Now, let’s talk about what almost wasn’t. Back in 2005, there was a plan. The municipal council of Zijpe wanted to move the N9 road. The consequence? Every house in De Stolpen would have to be torn down. Imagine the uproar.
But fate intervened. In December 2006, the national government stepped in. It changed the decision. De Stolpen was saved. What exactly was saved? Essentially, a row of homes on the north side of the road.
De Stolpen almost vanished from the map. The Zijpe council voted to demolish all houses for a new road design. Rijkswaterstaat then proposed an altered route. This route would spare the houses. However, the municipality deemed the plan unsafe and inaccessible.
Then, on December 15, 2006, the Minister of Transport and Water Management made a decision. They established the N9 Koedijk – De Stolpen 2006 Route Decision. The N9 was rerouted, saving the hamlet.
De Stolpen sometimes goes by just “Stolpen.” In the local dialect, it’s called “De Stollepe” or “De Stallepe”. This place lies on the Noordhollandsch Kanaal and the N9. It’s northwest of Schagen.
In 2021, De Stolpen had a population of about 180 people. Its area is 3.72 square kilometers. That’s a density of about 48 people per square kilometer.
The hamlet sits at an elevation of minus 0.2 meters. Its postal code is 1751. The dialing code is 0224. So, here stands De Stolpen. It is a testament to community and resilience. A place that faced demolition and emerged victorious.