Oosterhout

Oosterhout
Municipality
Market square in Oosterhout
Market square in Oosterhout
Flag of Oosterhout
Flag
Coat of arms of Oosterhout
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; 4.867
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorMarcel Fränzel (acting) (D66)
Area
 • Total
73.09 km2 (28.22 sq mi)
 • Land71.47 km2 (27.59 sq mi)
 • Water1.62 km2 (0.63 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2026)
 • Total
58,739
 • Density786/km2 (2,040/sq mi)
 • Town/Settlement
50,140
DemonymOosterhouter
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
4849, 4900–4911
Area code0162
Websitewww.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 North Brabant in southern Netherlands. The municipality had a population of 56,206 in 2021.

Population centers

The municipality of Oosterhout includes the following places:

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 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.[citation needed]

Main sights

Culture

De anoniemen, a group of statues made by Paul Elshout [nl] ,located in Slotpark [nl].

Sport

Oosterhout is home to several sports clubs, including volleyball club VOKO, football clubs VV SCO [nl], VV Oosterhout [nl], baseball club Twins, and field hockey club De Warande [nl]. Twins

Sport clubs

Notable people

WH de Vriese, 1891

Sport

Jennifer Vreugdenhil, 2019

References

  1. ↑ "Burgemeester mr. drs. S.W.Th. Huisman" (in Dutch). Gemeente Oosterhout. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Postcodetool for 4902ZP". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Oosterhout (Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands)". Population Statistics. 2026-01-01. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  5. ↑ "Oosterhout (Oosterhout, North Brabant, Netherlands)". Population Statistics. 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
  6. ↑ "De historie van de Slotjes". Fijn Oosterhout (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  7. ↑ "Sint Jansbasiliek". Visit Brabant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  8. ↑ "'t Slotje • Norbertinessenpriorij Sint Catharinadal". Norbertinessenpriorij Sint Catharinadal (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  9. ↑ "Ruïne van Strijen". Monumentenbezit (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 2026-08-21.
  10. ↑ "Oosterhout - De Anoniemen". vanderkrogt.net (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-08-21.