Breda Travel Guide

Introduction

Breda, a historic city in the southern Netherlands, offers a captivating blend of medieval charm and modern vitality. With a population of around 183,000, it is the ninth largest municipality in the country. The city boasts a rich cultural heritage, evident in its cobblestone streets, extraordinary historic buildings, and beautiful canals. Breda's old town centre, voted the Best City Centre in the Netherlands in 2009, features notable landmarks such as the Gothic-style Grote Kerk, the Breda Castle, and the Begijnhof. The city is also known for its green spaces, including the Valkenberg park and the Mastbos forest. Breda's commitment to innovation and sustainability is reflected in its numerous creative hotspots and green initiatives. Visitors can enjoy a vibrant atmosphere with lively pavement cafés, surprising street art, and annual events like the Breda Jazz Festival.

The city is renowned for its beer (Breda Royal Beer and Oranjeboom) and is the place of origin of Mentos. Breda has the dubious pride of having the highest density of shoe shops in the Netherlands. It is also home to the Dutch Royal Military Academy (Koninklijke Militaire Academie).

History

Breda was first mentioned in the late 11th century as a direct fief of the Holy Roman Emperor. It received its charter of rights in 1252. Sold to John III, Duke of Brabant, in 1327, it was resold to John II of Wassenaar in 1350. In 1403 the heiress of his line, Johanna of Polanen (1392-1445), married Engelbert I of Nassau (1370-1442). Elevated to the rank of barony, Breda remained into the possession of the House of Nassau until the French Revolution.

When the Prince of Orange, René of Châlon, only son of Count Henry III of Nassau-Breda, died childless in 1544, his cousin William of Nassau-Dillenburg inherited all of his lands, including Breda. Now called William I of Orange-Nassau, (a.k.a. William the Silent), he went on to become the first stadtholder of the Netherlands, mostly thanks to his cousin's again, who had been stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Gelre.

In 1534, a huge fire devastated most of the city, leaving only 150 out of the 1500 buildings standing. The same year, the city's modest fortifications were greatly enhanced by by Henry III of Nassau-Breda, leaving Breda an impregnable stronghold in the line of fortresses in the Netherlands.

During the Eighty Years' War Breda was captured by surprise by the Spaniards in 1581, but in 1590 it fell again into the hands of Maurice of Nassau, thanks to a daring plan of Adriaen van Bergen (68 men managed to enter the city concealed under the turf in a peat boat).

The Spaniards came back in 1625 and besieged Breda for 10 months before it finally surrendered. In 1637 Breda was recaptured by Frederick Henry of Orange-Nassau after a four months siege, and in 1648 it was finally ceded to the Dutch Republic by the Treaty of Westphalia.

King Charles II of England (1844-1685) resided in Breda during most of his exile (1649-1660) during the Cromwellian Commonwealth and Protectorate, thanks to the proximity of his sister, Princess Mary, widow of Prince William II of Orange. The English Restoration was proclaimed through the Declaration of Breda in 1660. The Second Anglo-Dutch War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Breda in 1667.

In the aftermath of WWII, the only German war criminals ever to be imprisoned in the Netherlands were housed in one of the first panopticon prison in the world.

Attractions

Breda is a nice city, though it is the overall atmosphere that makes its charm rather than individual sights. The 12th-century Beguinage (Begijnhof), one of the oldest in the Low Countries, is a good example of typical "neighbourhood atmosphere".

Between the railway station and the historical centre, the Valkenberg ("Falcon's Mount") is a park formerly used by the royalty to practise falcon hunting. The Castle of Breda stands nearby, surrounded by a moat, linked to the mainland by the Spaniards Gate (Spanjaardsgat).

No visit of Breda can be complete without seeing the Great Church of Our Lady (Grote of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk), one of the most astounding Gothic churches in the country. It was constructed between 1269 and 1547. Its tower culminates at 97m. The Grote Kerk became a Protestant place of cult from 1637, which explains why its interior decoration is so sober.

How to get there

Breda is centrally located and easily accessible from major Dutch cities and European destinations. From Amsterdam or Utrecht, take the A27 motorway, from Rotterdam the A16, and from Eindhoven or Tilburg the A58. By train, Breda has two stations: Central Station in the city centre and Breda-Prinsenbeek. High-speed rail connections are available from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and other European cities. Flixbus offers affordable intercity bus services to Breda from numerous European destinations, with tickets starting from as little as €5,48. Once in Breda, the compact city centre is perfect for exploring on foot, with most attractions reachable within a 15-minute walk. Cycling is a popular option, with bike rentals available at the station, various bike sheds and hotels. The local bus network provides comprehensive coverage with OVpay allowing convenient check-in/out using debit cards, credit cards or mobile devices. For more unique transport options, try the bike taxi (operating April to November), e-scooters from providers like Check, Felyx or GO Sharing, traditional taxis, or even explore the city's canals by boat or pedal boat.