staphoek

Staphoek is a small village in the Dutch province of North Brabant, situated within the municipality of Heusden. The settlement first appears in land records in the early 13th century, when it was a modest farming hamlet along the Swalthe river. Over the following centuries Staphoek remained largely agricultural, producing wheat and barley, with a population that never exceeded two hundred residents. The Eighty Years War in the late 16th and early 17th centuries caused the destruction of several houses; after the war new buildings were erected along the main street, giving the village its present layout.

The village is notable for the neoclassical St. Catharina Church, built in 1758, which continues to function as a place of worship and a community hub. In the churchyard are graves of prominent local families who were active in regional politics. A medieval baptismal font, relocated from a former monastery, is highlighted as an architectural feature.

In recent decades Staphoek has become a modest destination for rural tourism. Numerous bed-and-breakfasts, walking trails along the Swalthe and an annual harvest festival provide visitors with a sense of traditional Dutch countryside charm. Public transport links to Heusden and to the nearby railway station in Breda facilitate convenient access for both residents and guests.