Kockengen is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of Stichtse Vecht, and lies about 11 km northeast of Woerden.

Kockengen
Village
Flag of Kockengen
Coat of arms of Kockengen
Kockengen is located in Utrecht (province)
Kockengen
Kockengen
Location in the Netherlands
Kockengen is located in Netherlands
Kockengen
Kockengen
Kockengen (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 52°9′6″N 4°57′8″E / 52.15167°N 4.95222°E / 52.15167; 4.95222
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceUtrecht
MunicipalityStichtse Vecht
Area
 • Total
19.47 km2 (7.52 sq mi)
Elevation−0.5 m (−1.6 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
3,445
 • Density180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
3628[1]
Dialing code0346

The name of the village is a reference to Cockaigne, a medieval fictional land of plenty.[3]

Until 1989, Kockengen was a separate municipality. From then until 2011 it was part of the municipality of Breukelen.[4]

History

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The village was first mentioned around 1307 as Cokanghen. It started as a 12th-century as a cultivation concession, and the name was probably chosen to attract farmers.[5] Many of the early settlers were serfs from France.[4] In the 14th century a church was built. The tower dates from 1635. During the 17th century, it was prosperous village, due to good water connections to Amsterdam and Utrecht.[6] In 1840, Kockengen was home to 677 people.[4]

The Kockengense Molen [nl] is a polder mill, a pumping station to drain the excess water from the polder, which was constructed in 1653. In 1675, it was redesigned. The wind mill remained in service until 1962 when it was replaced by an electric pumping station, however it still serves as an emergency backup.[7]

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Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 3628AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. ^ Herman Pleij, Dreaming of Cockaigne: Medieval Fantasies of the Perfect Life. Columbia University Press. July 2003. p. 398-400.
  4. ^ a b c "Kockengen". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Kockengen - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  6. ^ Ronald Stenvert & Chris Kolman (1996). Kockengen (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90-400-9757-7. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Kockengense Molen". Molen database (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 March 2022.