Breda is a city where coziness and creativity go hand in hand, and where water and greenery seamlessly merge as lifeblood around and within its historic center. In the coming years, the West Brabant city is becoming more and more a city within a park. With this transformation, Breda aims not only to become even more beautiful but also to prepare for a climate-resilient future.
Breda is a city where coziness and creativity go hand in hand, and where water and greenery seamlessly merge as lifeblood around and within its historic center. In the coming years, the West Brabant city is becoming more and more a city within a park. With this transformation, Breda aims not only to become even more beautiful but also to prepare for a climate-resilient future.
Breda's reputation as a green city is owed not only to its parks like Valkenberg but also to the Mastbos, one of the oldest pine forests in the country, and the River Mark in the Markdal, which are all attractions for nature enthusiasts. Near the Mastbos, just outside the Ginneken neighborhood, lies the 15th-century Bouvigne Castle with its beautiful French, German, and English gardens.
It was the German Nassau family that built the hunting lodge on the territory they acquired through the marriage of Engelbrecht of Nassau to the daughter of castle lord Jan III of Polanen. They also constructed the Begijnhof (Beguinage) and the Grote Kerk (Great Church) and later established the Royal Military Academy in the city. Breda likely owes its nickname, the "Little Hague of the South," to these influences. In 1980, Queen Beatrix celebrated her first Queen's Day here, and at that time, Princess Máxima began her introduction to the Netherlands.
In the Nassau city of Breda, which in the past was an important garrison and fortress town, history is everywhere you look. At the same time, the city constantly looks to the future by providing ample room for growth, development, and innovation. As a hotbed of creativity, the city's essence comes to life on Haveneiland (Harbor Island). Here, the STEK business park offers entrepreneurs the space and freedom to build and work with minimal regulations. All structures here are temporary, flexible, and largely made from reclaimed materials. Sustainability and innovation coexist with creativity and entrepreneurship.
With the dynamism of a city and the charm of a large village, Breda is the ideal blueprint for a pleasant and livable city. Its beating heart is the Grote Markt (Great Market). It boasts the Gothic Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk (Our Lady's Church), the Begijnhof, the Spanjaardsgat, and the Oude Stadhuis (Old City Hall) as historic gems. It includes the bustling Haven (Harbor) and artisanal shops in the Veemarktkwartier (Livestock Market Quarter). It features a surprising mix of shops, dining, and nature in Ginneken. Moreover, it hosts a rich creative sector, positioning Breda as an Urban Playground with potential and ambition to be a meeting place for innovators. From the Blind Walls Gallery to the St. Joost Art Academy. From gaming programs to the internationally renowned Breda Photo and Breda Jazz Festival. Breda is alive with activity.
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