North Brabant
Encyclopedia
North Brabant sometimes called Brabant, is a province
of the Netherlands
, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium
in the south, the Meuse River
(Maas) in the north, Limburg
in the east and Zeeland
in the west.
, of which the southern part is now in present-day Belgium
. In the 14th and 15th century, the area experienced a golden age, especially the cities of Leuven
(Louvain), Antwerp (both now in Belgium), Breda and 's-Hertogenbosch.
After the Union of Utrecht
was signed in 1579, Brabant became a battlefield between the Protestant Dutch Republic
and Catholic Spain
, which occupied the southern Netherlands. As a result of the Peace of Westphalia
, the northern part of Brabant became part of the Netherlands as the territory of Staats-Brabant (State Brabant) under federal
rule, in contrast to the founding province
s of the Dutch Republic
which were self-governing.
Attempts to introduce Protestantism into the region were largely unsuccessful; North Brabant remained strongly Roman Catholic. For over a century, North Brabant served mainly as a military buffer zone. In 1796, when confederate
Dutch Republic became the unitary
Batavian Republic
, Staats-Brabant became a province as Bataafs Brabant. This status ended with the reorganisation by the French
, and the area was divided over several departments.
In 1815, Belgium and the Netherlands were united in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
, and the province of North Brabant was established and so named to distinguish it from South Brabant
in present-day Belgium
, which seceded from the Kingdom in 1830. This boundary between the Netherlands and Belgium is special in that it does not form a contiguous line, but leaves a handful of tiny enclaves (and enclaves inside enclaves) on both sides of the border. A few of these irregularities were corrected (Luyksgestel
was exchanged for Lommel
), but some remain, notably Baarle-Hertog
.
When the present province was instituted, its territory was expanded with a part of the province of Holland and the former territory of Ravenstein
which had previously belonged to the Duchy of Cleves
, as well as several small, formerly autonomous entities.
The period from 1900 till the late 1960s is called Het Rijke Roomse Leven (translated as 'the rich Roman life', with 'Roman' meaning 'Roman Catholic'), a religious and spiritual awakening. Het Rijke Roomse Leven came about as result of the emancipatory drive of the province's disadvantaged Catholic population and was supported by a Roman Catholic pillar
, which was directed by the clergy, and not only encompassed churches, but also Roman Catholic schools and hospitals, which were run by nuns. In those days every village in North Brabant had a convent from which the nuns operated. Politically, the province was dominated by Catholic parties: the Roomsch-Katholieke Staatspartij
and its post-war successor, the Katholieke Volkspartij
, which often held around 75% of the vote.
In the 1960s secularisation and the actual emancipation of the Catholic population brought about the gradual dissolution of the Catholic pillar, as church attendance decreased in North Brabant as elsewhere in Western Europe. The influence of Het Rijke Roomse Leven remains in the form of education still being Roman Catholic (today it is run by professional teachers rather than nuns) and in North Brabant's culture, politics, mentality and customs
, such as carnival. The province still has a distinct Catholic atmosphere when compared to the provinces north of the major rivers.
, currently Wim van de Donk
. While the provincial council is elected by the inhabitants, the Commissioner is appointed by the Queen and the cabinet of the Netherlands. With 12 seats, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
is the largest party in the council, closely followed by Christian Democratic Appeal
with 10 seats.
The daily affairs of the province are taken care of by the Gedeputeerde Staten, which are also headed by the Commissioner; its members (gedeputeerden) can be compared with ministers.
in the north. Its delta flows through the Biesbosch
area, a national park.
, industrial
and service sectors. The main agricultural products are wheat
and sugar beet
, while cows and pig
s are held as livestock. The chief industries are automobile production, electronics (both mainly in Eindhoven), textile and shoes.
In the twentieth century, tourism
has become an important sector for North Brabant, the woods and its quiet atmosphere combined with the beauty of some of the cities having proved successful. Another big tourist attraction is theme park Efteling
in Kaatsheuvel
, the largest of the Benelux.
Provinces of the Netherlands
A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the south, the Meuse River
Meuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
(Maas) in the north, Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
in the east and Zeeland
Zeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
in the west.
History
Until the 17th century, the area that now makes up the province of North Brabant was mostly part of the Duchy of BrabantDuchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
, of which the southern part is now in present-day Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. In the 14th and 15th century, the area experienced a golden age, especially the cities of Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
(Louvain), Antwerp (both now in Belgium), Breda and 's-Hertogenbosch.
After the Union of Utrecht
Union of Utrecht
The Union of Utrecht was a treaty signed on 23 January 1579 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under the control of Habsburg Spain....
was signed in 1579, Brabant became a battlefield between the Protestant Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
and Catholic Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, which occupied the southern Netherlands. As a result of the Peace of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
, the northern part of Brabant became part of the Netherlands as the territory of Staats-Brabant (State Brabant) under federal
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
rule, in contrast to the founding province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
s of the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
which were self-governing.
Attempts to introduce Protestantism into the region were largely unsuccessful; North Brabant remained strongly Roman Catholic. For over a century, North Brabant served mainly as a military buffer zone. In 1796, when confederate
Confederation
A confederation in modern political terms is a permanent union of political units for common action in relation to other units. Usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution, confederations tend to be established for dealing with critical issues such as defense, foreign...
Dutch Republic became the unitary
Unitary state
A unitary state is a state governed as one single unit in which the central government is supreme and any administrative divisions exercise only powers that their central government chooses to delegate...
Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
, Staats-Brabant became a province as Bataafs Brabant. This status ended with the reorganisation by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and the area was divided over several departments.
In 1815, Belgium and the Netherlands were united in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
, and the province of North Brabant was established and so named to distinguish it from South Brabant
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also completely surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven...
in present-day Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, which seceded from the Kingdom in 1830. This boundary between the Netherlands and Belgium is special in that it does not form a contiguous line, but leaves a handful of tiny enclaves (and enclaves inside enclaves) on both sides of the border. A few of these irregularities were corrected (Luyksgestel
Luyksgestel
Luyksgestel is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Bergeijk.Luyksgestel was a part of the Southern Netherlands for a long time. Until 1819, it belonged to the province of Antwerp, and only then it was transferred to North Brabant...
was exchanged for Lommel
Lommel
Lommel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Lommel had a total population of 31,898. The total area is 102.37 km² which gives a population density of 312 inhabitants per km².-Lutlommel:...
), but some remain, notably Baarle-Hertog
Baarle-Hertog
Baarle-Hertog is a municipality belonging to the Belgian province of Antwerp, but for the biggest part located in the Netherlands province of North Brabant. The municipality only comprises the town of Baarle-Hertog proper. On January 1, 2006 Baarle-Hertog had a total population of 2,306...
.
When the present province was instituted, its territory was expanded with a part of the province of Holland and the former territory of Ravenstein
Ravenstein, Netherlands
Ravenstein is a city and a former municipality in the South of the Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The former municipality covered an area of 42.68 km²...
which had previously belonged to the Duchy of Cleves
Duchy of Cleves
The Duchy of Cleves was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was situated in the northern Rhineland on both sides of the Lower Rhine, around its capital Cleves and the town of Wesel, bordering the lands of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster in the east and the Duchy of Brabant in the west...
, as well as several small, formerly autonomous entities.
The period from 1900 till the late 1960s is called Het Rijke Roomse Leven (translated as 'the rich Roman life', with 'Roman' meaning 'Roman Catholic'), a religious and spiritual awakening. Het Rijke Roomse Leven came about as result of the emancipatory drive of the province's disadvantaged Catholic population and was supported by a Roman Catholic pillar
Pillarisation
Pillarisation is a term used to describe the politico-denominational segregation of Dutch and Belgian society. These societies were "vertically" divided into several segments or "pillars" according to different religions or ideologies.These pillars all had their own social institutions: their own...
, which was directed by the clergy, and not only encompassed churches, but also Roman Catholic schools and hospitals, which were run by nuns. In those days every village in North Brabant had a convent from which the nuns operated. Politically, the province was dominated by Catholic parties: the Roomsch-Katholieke Staatspartij
Roman-Catholic State Party
Roman-Catholic Political Party was a Dutch Catholic Christian-Democratic political party. The party was founded in 1926 as a continuation of the General League. In 1945 the party became the Catholic People's Party .-History:...
and its post-war successor, the Katholieke Volkspartij
Catholic People's Party
The Catholic People's Party was a Catholic Christian democratic Dutch political party. During its entire existence, the party was in government. The party is one of the precursors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.- 1945-1965 :The KVP was founded on 22 December, 1945...
, which often held around 75% of the vote.
In the 1960s secularisation and the actual emancipation of the Catholic population brought about the gradual dissolution of the Catholic pillar, as church attendance decreased in North Brabant as elsewhere in Western Europe. The influence of Het Rijke Roomse Leven remains in the form of education still being Roman Catholic (today it is run by professional teachers rather than nuns) and in North Brabant's culture, politics, mentality and customs
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, such as carnival. The province still has a distinct Catholic atmosphere when compared to the provinces north of the major rivers.
Politics
The provincial council (Provinciale Staten) has 55 seats, and is headed by the Queen's CommissionerQueen's Commissioner
The Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, who is chairman of both the Provinciale Staten and the Gedeputeerde Staten , but only has a right to vote in the latter...
, currently Wim van de Donk
Wim van de Donk
Wilhelmus Bernhard Henricus Josephus van de Donk is a Dutch politician and former academic and civil servant. He is a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal...
. While the provincial council is elected by the inhabitants, the Commissioner is appointed by the Queen and the cabinet of the Netherlands. With 12 seats, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
is the largest party in the council, closely followed by Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
with 10 seats.
The daily affairs of the province are taken care of by the Gedeputeerde Staten, which are also headed by the Commissioner; its members (gedeputeerden) can be compared with ministers.
Municipalities
North Brabant is currently divided into 67 municipalities. Traditionally, almost every town was a separate municipality, but their number was reduced greatly in the 1990s by incorporating smaller towns into neighbouring cities or by other mergers. The municipalities in North Brabant are:- AalburgAalburgAalburg is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands. The municipality was formed in 1973 in a merger of the former municipalities of Eethen, Veen, and Wijk en Aalburg.- Population centres :...
- Alphen-ChaamAlphen-Chaam- Population centres :Towns:*Alphen *Chaam *Galder Hamlets :*Alphen-Boshoven*Alphen-Oosterwijk*Boslust*Cauwelaar...
- Asten
- Baarle-NassauBaarle-NassauBaarle-Nassau is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, located in North Brabant province. As of 2007 its population was of 6,668.-The border with Baarle-Hertog:...
- BergeijkBergeijkBergeijk is a municipality and town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. It has an area of 103 square kilometers and a population of 18,027 in 2005. Population density is 175 people per square kilometer...
- Bergen op ZoomBergen op ZoomBergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.-History:Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1266. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of Breda. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate...
- BernhezeBernhezeBernheze is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. It was formed in 1994 from the former municipalities of Heesch, Heeswijk-Dinther and Nistelrode. -Name:...
- Best
- BladelBladel- Notable people :*Roy Beerens , Dutch footballer*Corky de Graauw , Dutch ice hockey player*Jan Renier Snieders , Flemish writer*August Snieders , Flemish writer and journalist-External links:*...
- BoekelBoekelBoekel is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.-External links:**...
- BoxmeerBoxmeerBoxmeer is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands. It incorporates the former municipality of Beugen en Rijkevoort and that of Vierlingsbeek.- Population centres :...
- BoxtelBoxtelBoxtel is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.This is the origin of the van Boxtel family, which has numerous descendants in North Brabant....
- Breda
- CranendonckCranendonck- Population centres :Budel, Budel-Dorplein, Budel-Schoot, Gastel, Maarheeze, Soerendonk.-External links:*...
- CuijkCuijkCuijk is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands of pre-historic origin. Its existence is recorded on the Roman roadmap Tabula Peutingeriana under the name of Ceuclum. Cuijk is twinned with Maldon in Essex, UK. It is a big commuter town with very good public transport services to...
- Deurne
- DongenDongenDongen is a municipality and a village in the southern Netherlands. In the past it was home to a profitable Leather industry, to which a few old shoe factories in the town's older sections still testify. The town is formed near a small river called "Donge" , the water of which was used extensively...
- DrimmelenDrimmelen- Population centres :Towns:*Made *Terheijden *Lage Zwaluwe *Wagenberg *Hooge Zwaluwe *Drimmelen...
- EerselEerselEersel is a municipality and a town in southern Netherlands in the province of North Brabant. Eersel is situated in the Campine area....
- Eindhoven
- Etten-LeurEtten-LeurEtten-Leur is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. Its name is a combination of the two towns from which the municipality originally arose: Etten and Leur...
- GeertruidenbergGeertruidenbergGeertruidenberg is a city and municipality in the province North Brabant in the south of the Netherlands. The city, named after Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, received city rights in 1213 from the count of Holland. The fortified city prospered until the 15th century.Today, the municipality of...
- Geldrop-MierloGeldrop-MierloGeldrop-Mierlo is a municipality in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The municipality was created from the two former municipalities of Geldrop and Mierlo.-Villages:...
- Gemert-BakelGemert-Bakel- Population centres :Bakel, De Mortel, De Rips, Elsendorp, Gemert, Handel, Milheeze.-People from Gemert:Humanist Macropedius is one of the few famous people to have been born in Gemert, and a school and park have been named after him.-Castle:...
- Gilze en RijenGilze en RijenGilze en Rijen is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. The municipality contains four villages Rijen, Gilze, Hulten and Molenschot.Rijen grew in the 19th century due to its leather factories.- Population centres :*Rijen...
- GoirleGoirleGoirle is a municipality and town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. Part of the suburban area of the city of Tilburg, it shares with it its phone area code and public transport system....
- Grave
- HaarenHaarenHaaren is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant.- About Haaren:Haaren is also known as 'The Garden of Brabant' because of the many plantations of trees, plants etc. The municipality of Haaren contains three other villages: Helvoirt, Esch, and...
- HalderbergeHalderberge- Population centres :*Oudenbosch *Hoeven *Oud Gastel *Bosschenhoofd *Stampersgat -Twin towns — Sister cities:Halderberge is twinned with: Międzyrzecz, Poland...
- Heeze-LeendeHeeze-LeendeHeeze-Leende is a municipality in the southern Netherlands, near Eindhoven. It is known for Heeze Castle ....
- HelmondHelmondHelmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.- Quarters and Neighbourhoods :*Quarter 11 Inner City**Neighbourhood 0 Centrum**Neighbourhood 2 Leonardus**Neighbourhood 3 Heipoort...
- 's-Hertogenbosch
- HeusdenHeusdenHeusden is a municipality and a city in the South of the Netherlands. It is located between the cities Waalwijk and 's-Hertogenbosch.- Population centres :...
- HilvarenbeekHilvarenbeekHilvarenbeek is a municipality and a town in the south of the Netherlands, along the border with Belgium.- Population centres :The municipality of Hilvarenbeek also includes the following villages with their own churches: Baarschot, Biest-Houtakker, Diessen, Esbeek and Haghorst.In addition, the...
- LaarbeekLaarbeekLaarbeek is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. It was formed in 1997 by the former municipalities Beek en Donk, Aarle-Rixtel and Lieshout . Laarbeek is part of the city region 'Samenwerkingsverband Regio Eindhoven', centered around the city of Eindhoven...
- LanderdLanderdLanderd is a municipality within the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.-History:Landerd is the result of a merger between the formerly independent municipalities of Schaijk and Zeeland on 1 January 1994. Schaijk and Reek had merged earlier on 1 July 1942.- Population centres...
- Loon op ZandLoon op ZandLoon op Zand is a municipality and a village in the southern Netherlands. It has 23.000 residents.- Loon op Zand :Loon op Zand is the oldest village of the municipality. Somewhere around the year 1000, this village was founded in a very wet and swampy area. There was also a lot of drift-sand whose...
- Maasdonk
- Mill en Sint HubertMill en Sint Hubert- Population centres :*Langenboom*Mill*Sint Hubert*Wilbertoord-External links:*...
- MoerdijkMoerdijkMoerdijk is a municipality and a town in the South of the Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant.- History :The municipality of Moerdijk was founded in 1997 following the merger of the municipalities of Fijnaart en Heijningen, Klundert, Standdaarbuiten, Willemstad and Zevenbergen. At that...
- Nuenen, Gerwen en NederwettenNuenen, Gerwen en NederwettenNuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten is a municipality consisting of the larger village of Nuenen and two adjacent smaller ones. It is located in the province of Noord-Brabant, about 10 km east of Eindhoven, the fifth largest city in the Netherlands...
- OirschotOirschotOirschot is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands. It is situated 12 km from the city of Eindhoven and 20 km from the city of Tilburg in the province Noord-Brabant...
- OisterwijkOisterwijk- The city of Oisterwijk :Oisterwijk received city rights in 1230. Part of the municipality of Oisterwijk includes the 'Oisterwijkse bossen en vennen' and the 'Kampina'. Both are nature reserves of outstanding natural beauty. The reserves are owned and kept by the 'Vereniging Natuurmonumenten'...
- OosterhoutOosterhoutOosterhout is a municipality and a city in the South of the Netherlands. At June, 2008, the city population was 54,015.-History:Oosterhout is mentioned for the first time in 1277, although archaeological excavations showed the existence of human settlements in the area in prehistoric times. The...
- OssOssOss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.- Population centres :-Transportation:* Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein- The city of Oss :...
- Reusel-De MierdenReusel-De MierdenReusel-De Mierden is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. It is located in the North Brabant province, and has an area of 78.65 km². In 2005, the population was approximately 12,288....
- Roosendaal
- RucphenRucphenRucphen is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands between Roosendaal and Etten-Leur, south of the railway, but without a train-station.- Population centres :*Sint Willebrord *Sprundel...
- SchijndelSchijndelSchijndel is a municipalityin the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. Schijndel is located approximately fourteen kilometers southeast of 's-Hertogenbosch. Schijndel was founded on the 6th of December in the year 1309...
- Sint AnthonisSint AnthonisSint Anthonis is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands in the Province of Noord-Brabant.The locals refer to the town as Sint Tunnis. An inhabitant is called a "Sintunnisenaar".As of January 1, 2011 the town has 4,228 inhabitants....
- Sint-MichielsgestelSint-MichielsgestelSint-Michielsgestel is a municipality and a town in the southern part of the Netherlands.Sint-Michielsgestel is located directly south of 's-Hertogenbosch, the capital of North Brabant province. Its name refers to archangel St...
- Sint-OedenrodeSint-OedenrodeSint-Oedenrode is a municipality and a city in the South of the Netherlands.-History of the city of Sint-Oedenrode:First records of the settlement called Rhode date from the year 500. Sint-Oedenrode was a small settlement on an elevated place near the river Dommel...
- SomerenSomeren-External links:*...
- Son en BreugelSon en BreugelSon en Breugel is a municipality in the southern Netherlands just outside of Eindhoven. 15,204 lived in this municipality as of June 1, 2005. Son en Breugel is 26,67 km² . Son en Breugel used to be two different towns 'Son' and 'Breugel'. The border between these towns is made by the stream...
- SteenbergenSteenbergen (Brabant)Steenbergen is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the south of the Netherlands.The municipality has 23,202 inhabitants and covers an area of 160 km ²...
- TilburgTilburgTilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
- UdenUdenUden is a municipality and a town in the province of Noord-Brabant, Netherlands.- History :Uden was first recorded around 1190 as “Uthen”. However, earlier settlements have been found in the areas of the modern day Moleneind, Vorstenburg and Bitswijk and evidence of ice-age settlements has been...
- ValkenswaardValkenswaardValkenswaard is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The municipality had 30,871 citizens and spans an area of 56,50 square kilometers ....
- VeghelVeghelVeghel is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.Since 1994 Veghel and the neighbouring village of Erp have formed a single municipality.Veghel is twinned with Goch in Germany.- Population centres :*Boerdonk*Eerde*Erp*Keldonk...
- VeldhovenVeldhovenVeldhoven is a municipality and a town on the Gender stream in the southern Netherlands, located just south-west of Eindhoven.- Population centres :...
- VughtVughtVught is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands. It is a town where lots of commuters live and has recently been named "Best place to live" by the Dutch magazine Elsevier.-Politics:...
- WaalreWaalreWaalre is an affluent municipality and town in the southern Netherlands, immediately south of the city of Eindhoven.- Population centres :Aalst, Achtereind, De Heuvel, Heikant, Loon, Timmereind and Waalre....
- WaalwijkWaalwijkWaalwijk is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands.It is a member of the Langstraat.It has a population of around 38,920 and is located near the motorways A59 and N261...
- WerkendamWerkendamWerkendam is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands. The municipality contains a large part of the Biesbosch area.- Population centres :*Dussen*Hank*Nieuwendijk*Sleeuwijk*'t Zand*Werkendam- Transport :...
- WoensdrechtWoensdrechtWoensdrecht is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.Woensdrecht is mainly known for Woensdrecht Air Base. In 1983 it was decided that the US would station 48 nuclear armed cruise missiles here, unless the USSR would reduce the number of SS-20 missiles to 378. Since the number was...
- WoudrichemWoudrichemWoudrichem is a municipality and a city in the south of the Netherlands.- Population centres :Almkerk, Andel, Bronkhorst, Duizend Morgen, Eng, Giessen, Oudendijk, Rijswijk, Stenenheul, Uitwijk, Uppel, Waardhuizen, Woudrichem and Zandwijk....
- ZundertZundertZundert is a municipality and a town in Noord Brabant, the Netherlands.Zundert lies about 10 metres above Dutch sea level , and is located 15 km south-west of the city of Breda, and 35 km north-east of Antwerp, Belgium...
Geography
Like most of the Netherlands, North Brabant is mostly flat but nearly every part of North Brabant is above sea level, therefore there are not as many canals as in the lower parts of The Netherlands. While most of the population lives in urban areas, the province is scattered with villages and most of the land is cultivated. Consistent with naturally raised areas, forests, heathlands and dune areas can also be found.Rivers and deltas
The province is bordered by the Meuse RiverMeuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
in the north. Its delta flows through the Biesbosch
Biesbosch
De Biesbosch , is one of the largest national parks of the Netherlands and one of the last freshwater tide areas in Europe. The Biesbosch consists of a rather large network of rivers and smaller and larger creeks with islands. The vegetation is mostly willow forests, although wet grasslands and...
area, a national park.
Economy
Employment is found in the agriculturalAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
and service sectors. The main agricultural products are wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
and sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
, while cows and pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
s are held as livestock. The chief industries are automobile production, electronics (both mainly in Eindhoven), textile and shoes.
In the twentieth century, tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
has become an important sector for North Brabant, the woods and its quiet atmosphere combined with the beauty of some of the cities having proved successful. Another big tourist attraction is theme park Efteling
Efteling
Efteling is the largest theme park in the Netherlands, and as it opened in 1952, it is one of the oldest theme parks in the world. Efteling is located in the town of Kaatsheuvel, in the municipality of Loon op Zand, and has received over 100 million visitors....
in Kaatsheuvel
Kaatsheuvel
Kaatsheuvel is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant, situated along highways N261 and N628. With a population of roughly 16,600, it is the largest village in and the capital of the municipality of Loon op Zand, which also consists of the villages of De Moer and Loon op Zand...
, the largest of the Benelux.
External links
- Official Website
- BOM Foreign Investments - Background information economy Brabant
- Province map showing subdivision in municipalities
- Merger Geldrop and Mierlo 1 Jan 2004, with map, http://www.geldrop-mierlo.nl/
- Deltaworks Online - Flood protection of North Brabant and Deltaregion
- Tourist information region Meierij & Northeast Brabant