Lepelstraat (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈleːpəlstraːt]) is a Dutch village six kilometres north of the city of Bergen op Zoom, and part of the municipality with that name. Its earliest records of history date back to 1298 where in a manuscript of landrights it was mentioned as "Den Leepel Straet."

Lepelstraat
Village
St Anthony of Padua Church
St Anthony of Padua Church
Lepelstraat is located in North Brabant
Lepelstraat
Lepelstraat
Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
Lepelstraat is located in Netherlands
Lepelstraat
Lepelstraat
Lepelstraat (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 51°33′N 4°17′E / 51.550°N 4.283°E / 51.550; 4.283
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
MunicipalityBergen op Zoom
Area
 • Total11.18 km2 (4.32 sq mi)
Elevation4 m (13 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total1,925
 • Density170/km2 (450/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
4664[1]
Dialing code0164

Lepelstraat has always been important in its region's religious history. In 1612 a little church was created in the attic of a farmhouse that was kept from the knowledge of authorities because Roman Catholicism was forbidden at that time. Even though this situation changed later in the 17th century, it existed until 1875 when Lepelstraat got its first real church, with a tower having a height of 68 metres. This tower was blown up near the end of World War II by retreating German troops and has never been rebuilt.

During the Netherlands' "Great Flood" in 1953 most of the land around Lepelstraat became flooded, costing almost two thousand lives. The water did not reach Lepelstraat itself, making it a safe haven for refugees who lost their homes, friends, and families.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 4664PA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 15 April 2022.