Breda
Breda (/ˈbreɪdə/ BRAY-də, also UK: /ˈbriːdə/ BREE-də, US: /breɪˈdɑː/ bray-DAH, Dutch: [breːˈdaː] ⓘ) is a city and municipality in the southern part of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Brabant. The name derived from brede Aa ('wide Aa' or 'broad Aa') and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. Breda has 185,072 inhabitants on 13 September 2022 and is part of the Brabantse Stedenrij; it is the ninth largest city/municipality in the country, and the third largest in North Brabant after Eindhoven and Tilburg. It is equidistant between Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Breda | |
|---|---|
City and municipality | |
Docks in the city centre | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Location in North Brabant | |
Breda Location within the Netherlands Breda Location within Europe | |
| Coordinates: 51°35′20″N 04°46′33″E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | North Brabant |
| Government | |
| • Body | Municipal council |
| • Mayor | Paul Depla (PvdA) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 128.68 km2 (49.68 sq mi) |
| • Land | 125.74 km2 (48.55 sq mi) |
| • Water | 2.94 km2 (1.14 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Population (Municipality, January 2021; Urban and Metro, May 2014) | |
| • Municipality | 184,126 |
| • Density | 1,464/km2 (3,790/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 180,420 |
| • Metro | 324,812 |
| • Metro region | 553,706 |
| • Brabant CMSA | 1,932,055 |
| Demonym(s) | Bredanaar, Bredaër |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postcode | 4800–4841, 4847, 4850–4854 |
| Area code | 076 |
| Website | www |
| Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
As a fortified city, it was of strategic military and political significance. Although a direct fiefdom of the Holy Roman Emperor, the city obtained a municipal charter; the acquisition of Breda, through marriage, by the House of Nassau ensured that Breda would be at the centre of political and social life in the Low Countries. Breda had a population of 184,126 in 2021; the metropolitan area had a population of 324,812.