| Bergen op Zoom | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | North Brabant | |
| Altitude | 10 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 93.13 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 66.464 (2014 census) | |
| POSTAL CODE | 4600–4625 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Bergen op Zoom is a city of North Brabant, province of south gods Netherlands.
To know
Bergen op Zoom is a historic town with a past of mercantile wealth but also turbulence, marked by natural disasters, economic recession, wars and relentless sieges. This past is today told by the numerous monuments located in the historic center. More than 800 have been reviewed. Of these, more than two hundred have been classified as of historical importance.
Background
Bergen op Zoom emerges from the darkness of history thanks to a document dated 1212, drawn up by the then lord of Breda who gave the village the title of city, at the same time detaching it from the barony of Breda and entrusting it as a fief to Gérard van Wezemaal, first lord of Bergen op Zoom.
At the end of the century the city was surrounded by walls and in those years the mighty door of Notre-Dame (Lievevrouwepoort) was opened, whose name was later changed into the door of the Prisoners (Gevangenpoort). In 1397 it was destroyed by a raging fire that left only a couple of buildings intact, the Dragon Hotel (de Draak) and the Elephant Palace (de Olifant). The Dragon Hotel, which still stands today, is considered the oldest of the Netherlands. Fifty years later a new fire reduced much of the city to ashes. Subsequently, in the area outside the walls at the door of Notre-Dame, the port district was established where potters and ceramists settled whose workshops soon became famous throughout Europe. At the end of the 15th century, the port district was also surrounded by walls. The door of Notre-Dame thus lost its function and was turned into a prison, hence its current name.
Under the government of Jan II van Glymes (1417-1494), Bergen op Zoom enjoyed great economic prosperity. The fairs held there twice a year acquired pan-European fame. In that period, grandiose construction works were undertaken. These include the expansion of the church of Santa Gertrude which, however, was never completed due to the severe economic recession that occurred in the mid-sixteenth century. This was mainly due to the silting up of the port caused by repeated floods that hit the Zealand and the Brabant western. The establishment of a permanent trading exchange replacing fairs also contributed to the decline of Bergen op Zoom. The fairs, in fact, continued to take place until 1910 but now attracted fewer and fewer merchants.
Jan II van Glymes had been nicknamed by the people "John, the lip", because of his swollen lips, a probable consequence of an infection. He was said to have 50 children although later scientific research has shown that he had 13 legitimate children and twenty, maximum twenty-four, illegitimate children. In 1485 Jan van Glymes ordered the extension of his palace in the city, now known as the Court of the Marquises (Markiezenhof). These works lasted for more than thirty years and were entrusted to the architect Anthonie Keldermans who was succeeded by his son Rombout.
During the 16th century, Bergen op Zoom acquired exceptional strategic importance. It was called the "key of the Zealand". Those who had taken possession of it would have dominated Zeeland. It was mainly on the occasion of the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), fought by United provinces against the Habsburgs of Spain that the city was transformed into a stronghold armed to the teeth. The ramparts were strengthened and at least one garrison was permanently stationed in the city. The Spaniards tried a couple of times to seize it with two, very long sieges but on both occasions they were forced to remove the tents. The first siege was undertaken by Alessandro Farnese between 1581 and 1588, the second from w: Ambrogio Spinola between 1605 and 1622. Bergen op Zoom gained a reputation for impregnability and was given the nickname of Virgo (De Maagd).
Once the star of the Hapsburgs of Spain went down, it was the Bourbons of France who threatened the Dutch republic. At the beginning of the 18th century, works were undertaken to modernize the fortifications under the direction of Baron Menno van Coehoorn but, despite this, French troops managed to conquer the stronghold in 1747 after a two-month siege.
In 1867 a government decree put an end to the status of a stronghold, starting the dismantling of the ancient walls. Despite the decree, the city maintained its military character until 2002, when the last barracks dedicated to the infantry general CortHeijligers was closed.
The industrial revolution had appeared in the mid-19th century. The first sugar refineries and foundries date back to that time. Today Bergen op Zoom remains an industrial city with numerous units operating mainly in the chemical and food sectors.
How to orient yourself
Bergen op Zoom: full screen map.How to get
How to get around
By taxi
- Revo taxi, ☎ 31 164 252 000.
By bike
- Bike rent (close to the train station), ☎ 31 164 235 732. Remember that to rent a bike you are required to show a valid identity document and to pay a security deposit whose amount varies, roughly, from 50 to 150 € depending on the model chosen (The tandem and the electric bike cost more) . The daily rental price includes theft insurance. Ask the renter for confirmation, to avoid unpleasant surprises at the time of return.
What see
- 1 Door of the Prison (Gevangenpoort), Lievevrouwestraat 60, ☎ 31 164 682 404.
€1.50. 
Tue-Sun 13: 00-16: 30. The oldest city monument dating from the 14th century and declared a national monument. - 2 Palace of the Marquises (Markiezenhof), Steenbergsestraat 8, ☎ 31 164 277 077, @[email protected]. €8.50. Tue-Sun 11: 00-17: 00. The ancient palace of the Marquises of Bergen op Zoom houses inside the small civic museum where you will notice a model of the city surrounded by the mighty walls demolished in the second half of the 19th century. It often hosts impromptu exhibitions.
- 3 Church of Santa Gertrude (Sint-Gertrudiskerk), Grote Markt 10, ☎ 31 164234377. €1.50. Tue-Sun 13: 00-16: 30.
- 4 Town Hall (Stadhuis), Grote Markt, ☎ 31 164234377, @[email protected]. Tue-Thu and Sat-Sun 13: 00-16: 30. A 17th century palace built on the site of older ones destroyed by raging fires.
- 1 Bastion "Ravelijn", Korneel Slootmansstraat (1 km from the Great Market Square), ☎ 31 164 280500. The only remaining bastion of the ancient city walls. It dates back to the early 18th century and features underground passages. Today it is a picnic spot.
€1.50. 
Tue-Sun 13: 00-16: 30. The oldest city monument dating from the 14th century and declared a national monument.Events and parties
- Carnival (Krabbegat).
What to do
- 1 De Maagd Theater, Grote Markt 32. Theater obtained from a deconsecrated church. The annual program includes around 100 performances. De Maagd is rendered in Italian as "maiden", "virgin" and refers to the ancient nickname of the city gained after the repeated but vain attempts of the Spanish besiegers to conquer the city during the eighty years war.
Shopping
Weekly markets
- Kaai (west of the Grote Markt). Tue 09: 00-15: 30. The Tuesday market with about 90 stalls where you will find all kinds of merchandise.
- Saturday market, Catherinaplein. Sat 09: 00-16.00. Fruit, vegetable and flower market on the square of Santa Caterina
How to have fun
Night clubs
- 2 [link not working]Locomotiefke, Grote Markt 11, ☎ 31 164 250321, @[email protected]. Also called "Curiosity Coffee" (Curiositeitencafé). When you cross the threshold, you will understand why.
- 3 Oosterwaal, Potterstraat 31, ☎ 31 164 233025. A small pub free from frivolity.
- 4 Zwijnshoofd, Moeregrebstraat 18, ☎ 31 164 234301, @[email protected]. Opened in 1880, the management of the restaurant has been handed down from father to son.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 IJssalon Crusio, Wouwsestraat 10, ☎ 31 164 233239, @[email protected]. A renowned and award-winning family-run ice cream parlor. The owners have never revealed the secret of the goodness of their ice creams.
- 2 Athene, Fortuinstraat 18, ☎ 31 164 266 604, @[email protected]. from € 14. Greek restaurant.
Average prices
- 3 De Bloemkool, Wouwsestraatweg 146, ☎ 31 164 233045, @[email protected]. Menu € 20-32. d. De Bloemkool means "the Cauliflower", a decidedly uninspiring name for a restaurant but the place is nice, it was obtained from an old building of the end of the 18th century and serves popular dishes with good value for money.
- 4 [link not working]Bistro Poncin, Steenbergsestraat 3, ☎ 31 164 266 333, @[email protected]. Thu-Mon 17:00. French restaurant.
- 5 Hemingway, Grote Markt 36/38, ☎ 31 164 252050, @[email protected]. Menu € 45. The restaurant of the "Draak", the oldest hotel Dutch.
- 6 't Strandhuys, De Boulevard 55, ☎ 31 164 260 222, @[email protected]. Tue-Sun 11: 30-21: 00. A modern French restaurant.
Where stay
Average prices
- 1 Old Dutch, Stationsstraat 29-31 (in front of the train station), ☎ 31 164 271888, @[email protected]. €79. Set up in an old building.
- 2 De Draak, Grote Markt 36, ☎ 31 164 252050, @[email protected]. €85. The oldest hotel in Bergen op Zoom and, in all likelihood, of all Netherlands.
- 3 De Bourgondier, Grote Markt 2-3, ☎ 31 164 254000, @[email protected]. €92. Hotel with 13 rooms plus a bridal suite with beautiful views of the Grote Markt below.
- 4 Van Ee, Beursplein 5 (in front of the palace of the Marquises), ☎ 31 164 299500, @[email protected]. € 92 Breakfast not included. Hotel with only 6 rooms.
Safety
- Commissariat, Jacob Obrechtlaan, ☎ 31 900 8844.
- Lievensberg Hospital, Boerhaaveplein 1, ☎ 31 164 278000.
How to keep in touch
Post office
There are two post offices in the center with "full services": one is inside a bookshop, the other inside a supermarket. You can buy stamps in other bookstores or at the V&D warehouses on the road to the station and Kruidvat (Gouvernemenstplein 29).
- Post office inside the "BLZ" bookshop, Lievevrouwestraat 12, ☎ 31 900 0990.
- Post office inside the "Jumbo" supermarket, Burg Van Hasseltstraat 1. Mon-Sat 08: 00-21: 00, Sun 10: 00-18: 00. Be careful because if you arrive after 6pm on weekdays, your letter (or package) will be sent the next day.
Around
- Wall of Brabant (Brabantse wal) (south of Bergen op Zoom just before the Woensdrecht airport runway). The short stretch of coast south of Bergen op Zoom constitutes an area of high ground distinct from the clayey soils of Zeeland and the sandstone soils of North Brabant. This geological diversity is also reflected in the vegetation. Several ornithological species have been recorded there. The hike touches the hill Kraaijenberg and the estate Mattemburgh within which there are English gardens with ornamental basins, an orangery and coach sheds. For more information, contact the tourist office.
Useful information
- 1 VVV Brabantse Wal, Kortemeestraat 19, ☎ 31 164 277482, @[email protected]. Tue 10: 00-17: 00. Contact the local tourist office for any questions. The staff is courteous.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Bergen op Zoom
Commons contains images or other files on Bergen op Zoom
