Waspik is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Waalwijk.

Waspik
Village
Factory and remnants of a wind mill
Factory and remnants of a wind mill
Flag of Waspik
Coat of arms of Waspik
Waspik is located in North Brabant
Waspik
Waspik
Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
Waspik is located in Netherlands
Waspik
Waspik
Waspik (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 51°41′12″N 4°56′40″E / 51.68667°N 4.94444°E / 51.68667; 4.94444
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
MunicipalityWaalwijk
Area
 • Total
18.61 km2 (7.19 sq mi)
Elevation1.4 m (4.6 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
5,155
 • Density280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
5165[1]
Dialing code0416

History

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Waspik was first mentioned in 1257 as Waspich, and means "headland in the mud".[3] Waspik was established in the 12th century in a peat excavation area. It was severely damaged in the St. Elizabeth's flood of 1421 and the village started to concentrate more southwards.[4]

The Dutch Reformed church dates from the 15th century, and never had a tower. The Catholic St Bartholomeus and Barbara Church was built in neoclassic style in 1840 and 1841. To the south of the village, a Carmelite monastery was built between 1926 and 1927 in Gothic Revival style.[4]

Waspik was home to 1,667 people in 1840.[5] Waspik was a separate municipality until 1997, when it became part of Waalwijk.[6]

Waspik came to national attention in 2007 when a Liberian family was forced to flee the village after repeated racist attacks. An official report into events in the village concluded that everyone involved in the affair including the town council and housing corporations had failed to protect the family. 11 youths were initially charged with the attacks, though only 8 were found guilty and sentenced to community service in April 2008. After they moved from the village to Waalwijk, they were also forced to flee from this town.[7][8]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 18 April 2022. two entries
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 5165AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Waspik - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert (1997). Waspit (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9945 6. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Waspik". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  6. ^ Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.
  7. ^ DutchNews.nl - Eight guilty of bullying Liberian family
  8. ^ Collectief falen in aanpak racisme Waspik – Binnenland – de Volkskrant