Alphen, North Brabant
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Alphen
| settlement_type = Village
| other_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = nl
| image_skyline = File:P1070682Alphen (Noord-Brabant).JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = House in Alphen
| image_flag = Alphen_dorpsvlag_1997.svg
| image_shield = Alphen_(NB)_dorpswapen.svg
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| image_map1 =
| map_caption1 =
| pushpin_map = Netherlands North Brabant#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Netherlands
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = North Brabant
| subdivision_type2 = Municipality
| subdivision_name2 = Alphen-Chaam
| elevation_footnotes = {{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 5131AA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 14 April 2022 }}
| elevation_m = 24
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_max_m =
| area_total_km2 = 39.92
| established_title =
| established_date =
| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=14 April 2022}}
| population_total = 4,305
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| area_code_type = Dialing code
| area_code = 013
| coordinates = {{coord|51|28|51|N|4|57|22|E|region:NL|display=inline, title}}
}}
Alphen is a village in the municipality of Alphen-Chaam, in the Netherlands. It is located about 12 km southwest of Tilburg.
History
Alphen was first mentioned in 709,{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/alphen |title=Alphen - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}} when a nobleman named Engelbrecht sold "Alfheim" to Saint Willibrord. In 739, it was sold on to the Abbey of Echternach. Alphen was originally a collection of hamlets which started to concentrate around the church.{{cite book|url=https://dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu02_01/sten009monu02_01_0009.php |title=Alphen |author=Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert| year=1997 |publisher=Waanders |location=Zwolle |isbn=90 400 9945 6 |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}}
The Catholic St Willibrord Church was built in 1954 to replace a church from 1909-1910 which was destroyed in 1944. The earliest church dated from the 16th century and had a tower which was built around 1559. The emergency church, which was built in 1945, is still located next to the St Willibrord Church.
In 1542, Alphen was burned to the ground by the army of Guelders under Maarten van Rossum, and in 1944, it suffered from destruction and looting as well.{{cite news|url=https://www.bd.nl/alphen-chaam/historische-alphense-klok-is-nu-pronkstuk-van-klokkenmuseum-br~a78afcb4/ |title=Historische Alphense klok is nu pronkstuk van klokkenmuseum |website=Brabants Dagblad |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}}
Alphen includes the hamlets of 't Zand, Alphen-Oosterwijk, Druisdijk, Looneind, Boslust, Hondseind, Het Sas, Terover, Boshoven and Kwaalburg.{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/alphen-nb |title=Alphen NB |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}}
Alphen was home to 431 people in 1840. Until 1997, Alphen was the main village of the municipality of Alphen en Riel.
Notable people
Gallery
File:Alphen Goedentijd 2010-0922-1257a.JPG|Former tannery
File:De Kloostertuin Alphen P1140135.jpg|Monastery garden
File:Den Heuvel Alphen P1140137.jpg|Restaurant in Alphen
File:P1070695Gemeentekantoor.JPG|Town hall
References
{{Commons category|position=left}}
{{Dutch municipality Alphen-Chaam}}
{{Authority control}}