| Persingen | |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Native Name Lang: | nl |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Gelderland |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name2: | Berg en Dal |
| Pushpin Map: | Netherlands Gelderland#Netherlands |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the province of Gelderland |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
| Elevation M: | 13 |
| Area Total Km2: | 3.93 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 105 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 6575 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 0524 |
| Coordinates: | 51.85°N 60°W |
Persingen is a village situated in the municipality of Berg en Dal in the province of Gelderland. In 2021, Persingen had 105 inhabitants.[2] The village claims to be the smallest village of the Netherlands for tourist reasons, however there are many more contestants who are much smaller; the former island of Schokland and the former squatter village of Ruigoord have the best credentials.[3]
It was first mentioned in the 13th century as Persingen, and means "settlement of the people of Perso (person)".[4] In the 13th century, a chapel was built at Persingen, and in the 15th century, it was replaced by a church. In 1444, the castle "Huys Persingen" was first mentioned. In 1526, it was destroyed by the citizens of Nijmegen. It was rebuilt in 1529, and was set on fire in 1613, and only a ruin remained. The last traces were destroyed in a 1809 flood.[5] Up to 1818, the village was part of the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1840, it was home to 24 people.[6]