Benschop is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of Lopik, and lies about 4 km west of IJsselstein. Benschop is an extremely long village: apart from a relatively compact town centre, it consists of a long ribbon (over 8 km long) of houses (mainly farms) on both sides of the Benschopsche Wetering. Until 1989, Benschop was a separate municipality.

Benschop
Village
De Nicolaaskerk van Benschop
Benschop Location in the Netherlands Show map of Utrecht (province) Benschop Benschop (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 52°0′26″N 4°58′46″E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Utrecht
Municipality	Lopik
Area [1]
• Total	22.97 km2 (8.87 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	−0.4 m (−1.3 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	3,575
• Density	160/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	3405[1]
Dialing code	0348

History

The village was first mentioned between 1280 and 1287 as benscop, and means "(peat) concession of Ben (person)".[3] Excavation of the peat started in the 11th and 12th century.[4] Benschop used to be part of the Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht. In 1285, the village became part of Holland.[5]

The Dutch Reformed Church dates from around 1500, but has 13th century elements. Huis Snellenburg was a manor house built around 1700. It was redeveloped into a farm, however the interior and the carriage house remain.[4] In 1805, Benschop was returned to Utrecht. In 1840, it was home to 1,415 people. Benschop used to be an independent municipality. In 1989, it was merged into Lopik.[5]

Gallery

• 
  House in Benschop
• 
  Farm in Benschop
• 
  The bear of Benschop by Inez van Dijk
• 
  Huis Snellenburg (1839)

References