Oosterhout

Oosterhout (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈoːstərɦʌut] (listen); from ooster, "eastern", and hout, "woods") is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands. The municipality had a population of 55,616 in 2019.

For other uses, see Oosterhout (disambiguation).
Oosterhout
Municipality
Market square in Oosterhout
Flag
Coat of arms
Location in North Brabant
Coordinates: 51°38′N 4°52′E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorMarcel Fränzel (acting) (D66)
Area
 • Total73.09 km2 (28.22 sq mi)
 • Land71.47 km2 (27.59 sq mi)
 • Water1.62 km2 (0.63 sq mi)
Elevation5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (January 2019)[4]
 • Total55,616
 • Density778/km2 (2,020/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Oosterhouter
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

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
  • Slotjes (Castle)
  • Unfinished basilica of St. John. A Romanesque church existed in 1277, but from around 1473 it was rebuilt in the current Gothic style, being finished in 1493. The tower was constructed from 1519 to 1552. It was restored several times in the following centuries.
  • Monastery of St. Catherine, once a castle held by the Knights Hospitaller.
  • Slotbossetoren, destroyed castle

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
  • VOKO, Volleyball
  • ATV Scorpio, Athletics
  • SCO-Tofs, Football
  • TSC, Football
  • VV Oosterhout, Football
  • De Warande, Hockey
  • OZ&PC De Warande, Swimming and Water polo
  • De Voltreffers, Korfball
  • De Glaskoning Twins, Baseball

Notable residents
WH de Vriese, 1891

Sport
Jennifer Vreugdenhil, 2019
  • Katjeskelder Oosterhout
  • Oosterhout centrum
  • Put van Caron Oosterhout

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. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
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