Oosterhout

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 56,206 in 2021.

For other uses, see Oosterhout (disambiguation).
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
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
Government
[1]
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorMarcel Fränzel (acting) (D66)
Area
[2]
 • Total73.09 km2 (28.22 sq mi)
 • Land71.47 km2 (27.59 sq mi)
 • Water1.62 km2 (0.63 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total56,206
 • Density786/km2 (2,040/sq mi)
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

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

Culture

De anoniemen a group of statues created by Paul Elshout is situated in Slotpark.

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 people
WH de Vriese, 1891

Sport
Jennifer Vreugdenhil, 2019
  • Katjeskelder Oosterhout
    Katjeskelder Oosterhout
  • Oosterhout centrum
    Oosterhout centrum
  • Put van Caron Oosterhout
    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 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. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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