Callantsoog ( West Frisian: ''Kallantsouge'') is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Schagen, and lies about 18 km south of Den Helder. Callantsoog was a separate municipality until 1990, when it was merged with

Zijpe Zijpe () is a former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. In 2013, Zijpe and Harenkarspel merged into Schagen. Population centres The former municipality of Zijpe consisted of the following cities, towns, villag ...

History

The village was first mentioned in the late 11th century as Callinge, and means "island of the people of Calle (person)". The oldest settlement had been known to exist in 920, but was lost in the sea in 1170. The second settlement was built on the island 't Oghe and lasted until 1570. Shortly after, the third and current settlement was built further east. In the 1799 Battle of Callantsoog, the landing of 12 thousand British soldiers on the beaches north of the town launched the

Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland The Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland (or Anglo-Russian expedition to Holland, or Helder Expedition) was a military campaign from 27 August to 19 November 1799 during the War of the Second Coalition, in which an expeditionary force of British an ...

, and triggered the mutiny or surrender of a squadron of Dutch warships. The Dutch Reformed church is a double aisled church built between 1580 and 1581 using material from the flooded earlier church. It has a bell dating from 1491. Callantsoog was to 187 people in 1840. During the early 20th century, Callantsoog started to develop as a tourist resort. In 1942, it became part of the

Atlantic Wall The Atlantic Wall (german: link=no, Atlantikwall) was an extensive system of coastal defences and fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the coast of continental Europe and Scandinavia as a defence against an anticip ...

. In 1943, a munition depot exploded destroying the houses near the sea. It was an independent municipality until 1990 when it was merged into

. In 2013, it became part of the municipality of Schagen. Callantsoog has the oldest official

nude beach A nude beach, sometimes called a clothing-optional or free beach, is a beach where users are at liberty to be nude. Nude beaches usually have mixed bathing. Such beaches are usually on public lands, and any member of the public is allowed to us ...

of the country, dating from 1973. It is a sandy beach to the south.

Gallery

File:BibCallantsoog.jpg, Library of Callantsoog File:Red. (35729514971).jpg, Lighthouse File:Callantsoog 4.jpg, Beach view File:Callantsoog Centrum.jpg, View from the dunes

References

{{Authority control Schagen Populated places in North Holland Former municipalities of North Holland Nude beaches