Oosterhout

For other uses, see Oosterhout (disambiguation).
Oosterhout
Municipality

Market square in Oosterhout

Flag

Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Oosterhout in a municipal map of North Brabant
Location in North Brabant
Coordinates: 51°38′N 4°52′E / 51.633°N 4.867°E / 51.633; 4.867Coordinates: 51°38′N 4°52′E / 51.633°N 4.867°E / 51.633; 4.867
Country Netherlands
Province North Brabant
Government[1]
  Body Municipal council
  Mayor Stefan Huisman (VVD)
Area[2]
  Total 73.09 km2 (28.22 sq mi)
  Land 71.47 km2 (27.59 sq mi)
  Water 1.62 km2 (0.63 sq mi)
Elevation[3] 5 m (16 ft)
Population (May 2014)[4]
  Total 53,771
  Density 752/km2 (1,950/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Oosterhouter
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 4849, 4900–4911
Area code 0162
Website www.oosterhout.nl
Dutch Topographic map of Oosterhout, as per March 2014

Oosterhout (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈoːstərɦʌut]; from ooster, "eastern", and hout, "woods") is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands. The municipality had a population of 53,771 in 2014.

Population centers

The municipality of Oosterhout includes the following places:

  • Baarschot
  • Den Hout
  • Dorst
  • Eind van den Hout
  • Groenendijk
  • Heikant
  • Heistraat
  • Hespelaar
  • Oosteind
  • Oosterhout (city)
  • Seters
  • Steelhoven
  • Steenoven
  • Ter Aalst
  • Vijfhuizen
  • Vrachelen

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 Knights Templar had a temple here dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It was home to a castle which later acquired control over the surrounding area, up to Breda and Bergen op Zoom. The castle was destroyed by Spanish troops during the Eighty Years War, in 1573; only a tower of it survives today.

The city became the seat of a flourishing ceramics industry, which lasted until the 19th century. In 1625 the city was besieged by Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, and suffered heavy damage.

Despite the rise of Protestantism, it was home to several Catholic monasteries, including that of the Premonstratensians, which is still active. Oosterhout received city rights in 1809, by will of Louis Bonaparte.

Main sights

Sport

Oosterhout is home to several sports clubs, for example volleyball club VOKO, football clubs SCO-Tofs, VV Oosterhout, baseball club Twins and hockey club De Warande.

Sport Clubs:

Notable residents

References

  1. "Burgemeester mr. drs. S.W.Th. Huisman" (in Dutch). Gemeente Oosterhout. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. "Postcodetool for 4902ZP". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
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