Schoorl
Encyclopedia
Schoorl is a village in the Dutch
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...

 province of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...

. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen
Bergen, North Holland
Bergen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its North Sea beaches make it a popular destination for tourists, especially Germans. In 2001, the municipality was expanded to include the former municipalities of Egmond and Schoorl.Since about 1900, Bergen...

, and lies about 8 km northwest of Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...

. Until 2001, Schoorl was also a municipality of its own.

Schoorl is a village in between the polder area of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...

 and the Kennemer dunes. The village is about 8 km (5mls) long and never wider than 2 km (1mls). The village is heavily protected by the highest and widest dunes of 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...

, which reach about 54m (164 ft) above sealevel right behind the center of Schoorl, and are more than 5 km (3mls) wide.

Schoorl is a major local tourism location in the summer and counts over 25 campsites, the largest concentration of campsites 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...

.
The village, earlier named Scorel contains evidence of a long history in the form of two raadhuisjes (town hall) aging from 1600. The Dutch painter and evangelist Jan van Scorel
Jan van Scorel
Jan van Scorel was an influential Dutch painter credited with the introduction of High Italian Renaissance art to the Netherlands.-Biography:He was born in Schoorl, north of Alkmaar and close to Egmond Abbey...

 was born here.

Meidenmarkt is the most renowned yearly festivity that is celebrated once a year on the second day (Monday) of pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...

 (see also this list of dates to see when Pentecost begins). The celebration is a 100-year old tradition where the local youngsters can meet partners of the opposite sex. The celebration takes place on the klimduin in the center of town. This klimduin is a century old attraction and many Dutch people have visited it as part of a school trip.

Statistics

In 2001, the village of Schoorl had 2855 inhabitants. The built-up area of the village was 0.84 km², and contained 1208 residences. The wider statistical area "Schoorl with Bregtdorp
Bregtdorp
Bregtdorp is one of the towns in the municipality of Bergen, North Holland in the north-western Netherlands. It is located at a latitude of 52° 43' North and a longitude of 4° 40' 60 East at an elevation of 3 feet....

" has a population of around 3420.

The former municipality of Schoorl also included Aagtdorp
Aagtdorp
Aagtdorp is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about northwest of Alkmaar.Aagtdorp has a population of around 570....

, Catrijp
Catrijp
Catrijp is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about 9 km northwest of Alkmaar....

, Groet
Groet
Groet is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about 11 km northwest of Alkmaar.Groet was a separate municipality between 1817 and 1834, when it was merged with Schoorl....

, and Camperduin
Camperduin
Camperduin is a small village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about 12 km northwest of Alkmaar....

, and had about 6500 inhabitants.
.
"Schoorl" was until about 200 years ago known as "Schorel" (also part known as "Schoreldam") and the family crest (coat of arms) is recorded as being St Michaels (the dragon slayer), and was found on a grave some 1,000 years old.

It appears that Jan van Schorel during his travelling through southern States in Europe held it was easier to use the name Jan van Scorel, Jan van Schoorl, and other versions of his surname. Very old maps of North Holland/The Netherlands show "Schorel".
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