Geffen, Netherlands

Geffen
Village
Tower of the Church of Maria Magdalena
Coat of arms
Geffen Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands Show map of North Brabant Geffen Geffen (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 51°44′21″N 5°27′50″E / 51.73917°N 5.46389°E / 51.73917; 5.46389
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Brabant
Municipality	Oss
Area [1]
• Total	11.03 km2 (4.26 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	6 m (20 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	4,995
• Density	450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	5386[1]
Dialing code	073

Geffen had been an independent municipality in the Dutch province of North Brabant until 1993, when it became a part of the newly formed municipality Maasdonk. This lasted until 2015, when Maasdonk was dissolved and Geffen became part of Oss.

Archeological findings show that the area had been inhabited since the Stone Age (2000 B.C.). The date of settlement is not known. The first time Geffen was mentioned in official documents was on the October 1, 1246. There have been many different names for Geffen, including Ghiffen and Gheneffen. Gheneffen most probably had been created as a fusion between "gen" + "effa", which means "on the water's edge". In the year 1298, Duke Jan II of Brabant granted the town of Geffen rights for peat harvesting.

In the following centuries, Geffen became a fiefdom. The Vassal of Geffen resided in the castle of Geffen close to the border of Nuland. During a French raid in the 18th century this castle was destroyed and at this time only the ditch and its fortifications can be found.