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Kampen, Netherlands

Kampen
Municipality
Kampen city centre with the Bovenkerk in the centre
Kampen city centre with the Bovenkerk in the centre
Flag of Kampen
Flag
Coat of arms of Kampen
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Kampen in a municipal map of Overijssel
Location in Overijssel
Coordinates: 52°33′N 5°55′E / 52.550°N 5.917°E / 52.550; 5.917Coordinates: 52°33′N 5°55′E / 52.550°N 5.917°E / 52.550; 5.917
Country Netherlands
Province Overijssel
Government
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Bort Koelewijn (CU)
Area
 • Total 161.79 km2 (62.47 sq mi)
 • Land 142.64 km2 (55.07 sq mi)
 • Water 19.15 km2 (7.39 sq mi)
Elevation 1 m (3 ft)
Population (May 2014)
 • Total 51,278
 • Density 359/km2 (930/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Kampenaar, Kamper
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 8260–8279
Area code 038
Website www.kampen.nl

Kampen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkɑmpən]) 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 had a population of 51,278 in 2014 and covers an area of 161.79 square kilometres (62.47 square miles). Kampen is located in the North West of Overijssel and is the largest city in this region. The city of Kampen itself has around 35,000 inhabitants.

Kampen has one of the best preserved old town centres of the Netherlands, including remains of the ancient city wall (of which three gates are still standing) and numerous churches. Also notable are the three bridges over the IJssel which connect Kampen with IJsselmuiden and Kampereiland, the agricultural area between the branches which form the IJssel delta, and a windmill (d' Olde Zwarver – the Old Vagabond).

Traditionally people in Kampen speak a variation of the Sallands dialect, known as Kampers.

By 1150, there were already wooden buildings on the site where Kampen is currently located. The name Kampen, however, is not mentioned until 1277. The city has had city rights since 1236. As a result of its convenient location on the busy trade route between the Zuiderzee and the Rhine, Kampen quickly developed from simple settlements into a prosperous trading town, to become one of the most powerful and leading cities of northwestern Europe. In the 14th century, Kampen exchanged with the bishop of Utrecht, Jan van Arkel, the Mastenbroek polder against the right to increase the IJsseldelta.


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