Breda the Grand Dame among the cities

23 February 2020 0 By beheerder

Anyone who has ever visited Breda may have seen it, the city is a bit fancy but at the same time it is not a nuisance. Breda is a city that has everything that can make a city attractive to visitors. To start with, it has a pleasant atmosphere that you cannot find anywhere in the Netherlands. Furthermore, Breda is home to a large number of sights in the form of buildings and objects.

The Burgundian character of the city also attracts large numbers of tourists every year. The large number of pubs, cafés, eateries and restaurants are often well stocked, which further enhances the atmosphere.

Onze Lieve vrouwenchurch of Breda

The city of Breda was first mentioned in documentation in 1125. The city has a rich history and has always had a close relationship with the royal family over the years. When you walk through the city you cannot escape the impressive feeling you get when you walk past the 100 meter high Grote or Onze-lieve-Vrouw church. The church is known not only for its height, but also for the delicate 15th-century appearance that shows Flemish influences. The interior of the church is very interesting though the lake is through the tombs of the Dukes of Nassau.

Willem van Oranje, who is also known as William the Silent and is seen as the father of the country, was initially stadholder for the reigning lord of the Netherlands.

It was the intention to also bury Willem van Oranje here. However, things went differently because Breda was in Spanish hands when William of Orange was murdered in 1584.

The last resting place of Willem van Oranje finally became Delft in South Holland.

The Beguines

You will find so-called beguinages everywhere in the Netherlands. However, the most beautiful of these old courtyards can be found in the Catharinastraat in Breda. The beguinage was built in the 13th century and is today a place of incredible tranquility and charm. A beguinage is a collection of individual and / or communal dwellings, called houses and convents, of beguines usually in the vicinity of a chapel or church and whether or not surrounded by a wall with one or more gates.

In the Netherlands it is called hofje to indicate a series of small houses in which poor or elderly people live. The Netherlands had around seventy, starting with the 12th century. The begging movement from which this form of habitation originated is a widespread European phenomenon in the late Middle Ages. For political and religious reasons, the movement died out before 1400 in the rest of Europe, and was strongly curbed in the Low Countries.

The list with the Turfschip from Breda

Maurits Prins van Oranje at the Battle of Nieuwpoort in 1600

One of the most important historical events from the 80-year war for the city of Breda has been the trick with the peat ship where the Spanish occupiers were surprised in 1590. Many people think that the Spanjaardsgat was the place where peat skipper Adriaan van Bergens entered the castle . However, this is a myth because the passage between the Pigeon tower and the Garnet tower was only built in 1610. For the city of Breda the list led to the moral victory of the troops of Maurits van Oranje, he later became Prince of Orange.

Adriaen van Bergen approached Maurits van Oranje in 1590 with a plan to take over the city. As a skipper, he regularly transported peat to the Castle of Breda, where the Spanish troops were stationed. Because he came there so often, his ship was no longer checked. In this way he could smuggle an army into the castle. The whole idea was a wax derived from the idea of the Trojan Horse.

What to do in and around Breda

Breda is a bustling city with a Burgundian touch. Just like in the rest of Noord-Brabant, Breda is also a city where you can eat and drink deliciously. But there is much more to do around this beautiful city.

Active outings in Breda

This is how the daring like us can prove themselves at Fear Factory Breda. Anyone who has ever seen this program on television knows right away that this is not for everyone.

Nog zo een programma voor de durfal is Expeditie Robinson Breda. Ook deze activiteit is afgeleid van het gelijknamige televisie programma. Heb jij niet zo een groot hart maar wel een bourgondisch hart ga dan eens langs bij de wijnproeverij, naast lekker is dat ook nog eens gezellig en zeer leerzaam.

Another exciting activity could be a visit to the Prison Escape where you and your family or friends can try to escape from the Dome prison in Breda. Escape from the dome through good teamwork, communication and puzzle solving.

There are also Paintball venues and Climbing walls so there is something to do for everyone.

Water sports in and around Breda

Are you more of a watersports enthusiast then you can go to Breda. For example, go explore the area during a day of canoeing. Or if you want something different, check out if a day of Supping is something for you. When supping you stand upright on a kind of surfboard and you control the surfboard with a paddle.

Do you like being on the water but rather not as active, that is also possible. For example, pay a visit to the BBQ boat or the Lunch boat.

Or would you rather go on a cultural trip into the city. Then visit the Stedelijk Museum Breda or visit the Museum of the Image.

Or pay a visit to the Grote kerk or Onze Lieve Vrouwenkerk and climb the tower of the church under supervision.

The Castle of Breda

Right in the center of Breda you will find the Castle of Breda. A lot has been added and added over the centuries and since 1826 the Royal Military Academy has been established here. The Castle is only accessible during guided tours, organized by the Breda Tourist Office.

Every year during the Ascension weekend the pleasant city center of Breda forms the backdrop for the Breda Jazz Festival. This jazz festival has been around since 1971 and is the oldest and largest jazz festival of its kind in Europe. Every year there are around 175 gigs and all outdoor concerts are free of charge. Around 250,000 visitors visit the Jazz Festival every year.

Shopping in Breda

Breda is not just art and culture. You can really enjoy shopping in the city and if you need a cup of coffee or a sandwich then you usually do not have to walk very far. The Veemarktstreet in particular is a popular shopping street in Breda.

You will also find the Barones shopping center in the shopping heart of the city. This shopping center is covered, so you can also stay here on rainy days. The shopping center includes shops in all kinds of areas, so you will find here, among other things, exclusive shops for fashion, jewelry, body & care.

Of course, the carnival of Breda cannot be skipped. The city as well as the town hall change name during the carnival period. Both the town hall and the city bear the name Het Kielegat during this period.

The accessibility of Breda

Breda is easily accessible by train and bus. With the Flix Bus you can also easily travel to Amsterdam or to airports in Brussels and Eindhoven. Paid parking is a major part of the center. You enter the registration number of your car at the payment machine