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Bergen op Zoom (; called ''Berrege'' in the local dialect) is a
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...
and a city located in the south of the
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
.


Etymology

The city was built on a place where two types of soil meet: sandy soil and marine clay. The sandy soil pushed against the marine clay, accumulating and forming hills over several centuries. People called those hills the ''Brabantse Wal'', literally meaning "ramparts of Brabant". ''Zoom'' refers to the border of these ramparts and ''bergen'' in Dutch means mountains or hills. The name has nothing to do with the little channel, the ‘Zoom’, which was later built through Bergen op Zoom.


History

Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1212. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of
Breda Breda () 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 ...
. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate in 1559. Several noble families, including the House of Glymes, ruled Bergen op Zoom in succession until 1795, although the title was only nominal since at least the seventeenth century. During the early modern period, Bergen op Zoom was a very strong fortress and one of the main armories and
arsenal An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostl ...
s of the United Provinces. It had a remarkable natural defensive site, surrounded as it was by marshes and easily flooded
polder A polder () is a low-lying tract of land that forms an artificial hydrological entity, enclosed by embankments known as dikes. The three types of polder are: # Land reclaimed from a body of water, such as a lake or the seabed # Flood plains ...
s. Furthermore, it could receive reinforcements and supplies by sea, if the besieging army did not have a fleet to blockade its port. Due to these features, the city was one of the strategic points held by the Dutch during their revolt in the
Eighty Years War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt ( nl, Nederlandse Opstand) ( c.1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Ref ...
, beginning in the late sixteenth century. It was at that time besieged by Alessandro Farnese first in 1588, and by Ambrosio Spinola a second time in 1622. Both sieges were unsuccessful, and Bergen op Zoom got the nickname ''La Pucelle'' or ''The Virgin'' as it was never successfully taken in a siege. In 1747, during the
War of the Austrian Succession The War of the Austrian Succession () was a European conflict that took place between 1740 and 1748. Fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic and Mediterranean, related conflicts included King George ...
, the
French army History Early history The first permanent army, paid with regular wages, instead of feudal levies, was established under Charles VII of France, Charles VII in the 1420 to 1430s. The Kings of France needed reliable troops during and after the ...
laid siege to the city. Bergen op Zoom had been fortified by new works built at the beginning of the 17th century by
Menno van Coehoorn Menno, Baron van Coehoorn (; March 1641 – 17 March 1704) was a Dutch soldier and engineer, regarded as one of the most significant figures in Dutch military history. In an era when siege warfare dominated military campaigns, he and his French ...
, with three forts surrounding the city and a canalized diversion of the
Scheldt The Scheldt (french: Escaut ; nl, Schelde ) is a river that flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of the Netherlands, with its mouth at the North Sea. Its name is derived from an adjective corresponding to ...
acting as a ditch around its walls. However, it had no second line of fortifications, nor any
fortress A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
. After seventy days of siege, the city was taken and thoroughly sacked; the garrison was slaughtered. During the
War of the Sixth Coalition In the War of the Sixth Coalition (March 1813 – May 1814), sometimes known in Germany as the Wars of Liberation, a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, and a number of German States defeated F ...
, the town was again besieged by the British in March 1814 in a failed attempt to dislodge the French garrison.


Trading town

During the reign of Jan II van Glymes (1417–1494), nicknamed "Jan metten Lippen" (meaning "Jan with the big lips", probably caused by an infection), a surge in economic growth occurred in the city. Large fairs were held twice a year, in spring and fall, that were known both nationally and internationally. Merchants from all over Europe came to Bergen op Zoom to sell their goods. Because of this major economic growth, the Sint-Gertrudischurch was enlarged. The enlargement was called the ''Nieuw Werck'' but was never finished, because of the economic recession of the mid-16th century. It fell into ruin. The economic recession was largely caused by the poor accessibility of the port, due to a number of floods in Zeeland and West-Brabant. Because of the great reliance on the port, the economic growth received a major blow. In addition, the modernization of trade techniques, such as establishing of a permanent stock exchange instead of the fairs, which took place twice a year, also damaged the local economy. The fairs continued until 1910. Despite the end of the two big fairs, Bergen op Zoom still hosts all kinds of smaller fairs and events.


Religion

During the
Eighty Years' War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt ( nl, Nederlandse Opstand) ( c.1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Ref ...
, Bergen op Zoom chose the side of the Dutch Republic, and, simultaneously, for Protestantism. The Catholics of the city either adapted or moved to the surrounding countryside, which remained largely Catholic. The inhabitants who chose to stay Catholic went to church in secret barns and houses, since the local Sint-Getrudischurch was assigned to the Protestant community. Slowly, most of the city council members of Bergen op Zoom became Protestant. Protestants dominated the council until the 18th century. After that, the number of Catholics in Bergen op Zoom increased and, during the second part of the 18th century, a majority of Bergen op Zoom's population was Catholic again. Although the Catholics enjoyed religious freedom during the French period in 1795–1814, their emancipation did not take place until later. In 1832, a Catholic parish, the ‘Heilige Maagd ten Ophemeling’, was allowed to have its own church. In the same period, the Jewish community built a synagogue for their use. In 1972, the Protestant community, after the loss of many members, gave the Sint-Getrudischurch to the Catholic parish. Since the return of the Church, Catholic services have been held here again.


Population centres

*Bergen op Zoom (population: 65,691, July 2006) ** Heimolen ** Halsteren (11,410) ** Lepelstraat (2,070) ** Kladde


City of Bergen op Zoom

File:Bergen op zoom 008.jpg, Gevangenpoort, the oldest monument in Bergen op Zoom File:Bergen op zoom 005.jpg, Grote Markt File:Bergen op Zoom, Sint Gertrudiskerk foto2 2010-09-11 09.11.JPG,
Gertrudiskerk The Gertrudiskerk is a church approachable from the large market in the center of Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands. The towers of the church are called "pepper plant towers". An old legend says Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, abbess of the abbey in Nivell ...
File:Bergen op Zoom, fontein en brug in Anton van Duinkerkenpark foto6 2015-05-24 10.54.jpg, Bergen op Zoom, fountain and bridge in park File:The Marketplace in Bergen op Zoom E11381.jpg, ''The Marketplace at Bergen op Zoom''. Attributed to Abel Grimmer, 1590s. National Gallery of Art, Washington.
The Markiezenhof Palace, built in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, houses a
cultural centre A cultural center or cultural centre is an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts. Cultural centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run. Asia * Ce ...
and a museum with a picturesque courtyard, paintings, period rooms, and temporary exhibitions.
SABIC Saudi Basic Industries Corporation ( ar, الشركة السعودية للصناعات الأساسية), known as SABIC ( ar, سابك), is a Saudi chemical manufacturing company. 70% of SABIC's shares are owned by Saudi Aramco. It is active in ...
Innovative Plastics operates a major manufacturing facility in Bergen op Zoom.
Philip Morris Phil(l)ip or Phil Morris may refer to: Companies *Altria, a conglomerate company previously known as Philip Morris Companies Inc., named after the tobacconist **Philip Morris USA, a tobacco company wholly owned by Altria Group ** Philip Morris Inte ...
was another major employer until it closed its plant in 2014.


Transport

* Bergen op Zoom railway station


Notable people


The arts

* Jacob Obrecht (1457–1505) composer, mainly of sacred music *
Desiderius Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (; ; English: Erasmus of Rotterdam or Erasmus;''Erasmus'' was his baptismal name, given after St. Erasmus of Formiae. ''Desiderius'' was an adopted additional name, which he used from 1496. The ''Roterodamus'' wa ...
(1466–1536) humanist, philosopher, author *
Abel Grimmer Abel Grimmer (family name variations: 'Grimer' and 'Grimmaert') (c. 1570–c. 1620) was a Flemish late Renaissance painter, mainly of landscapes and, to a lesser extent, of architectural paintings. His works were important in the development ...
(1570–1619) a Flemish late Renaissance painter, mainly of landscapes * Gerrit Houckgeest (1600–1661) a
Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and art and ...
painter of architectural scenes and church interiors *
Bartram de Fouchier Bartram de Fouchier (February 14, 1609 – August 25, 1673) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Biography Fouchier was born in Bergen op Zoom. Houbraken remarked that his father was a Frenchman who had come to visit the Netherlands for the Siege ...
(1609–1673) a
Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and art and ...
painter *
Marcus Zuerius van Boxhorn Marcus Zuerius van Boxhorn (August 28, 1612 – October 3, 1653) was a Dutch scholar (his Latinized name was Marcus Zuerius Boxhornius). Born in Bergen op Zoom, he was professor at the University of Leiden. He discovered the similarity among Indo- ...
(1612–1653) historian, author and scholar *
Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert (1613 – 23 January 1654) was a Dutch Republic-born Flemish Baroque painter. Biography Willeboirts Bosschaert was born in Bergen op Zoom, where his Catholic family had moved in the late sixteenth century. He moved ...
(1613–1654) a
Flemish Baroque painter Flemish Baroque painting refers to the art produced in the Southern Netherlands during Spanish control in the 16th and 17th centuries. The period roughly begins when the Dutch Republic was split from the Habsburg Spain regions to the south with ...
* Pieter van der Willigen (1634–1694) a
Flemish Baroque painter Flemish Baroque painting refers to the art produced in the Southern Netherlands during Spanish control in the 16th and 17th centuries. The period roughly begins when the Dutch Republic was split from the Habsburg Spain regions to the south with ...
*
Govert-Marinus Augustijn Govert-Marinus Augustijn (Bergen op Zoom, 27 October 1871 – Hilversum, 26 May 1963) was a Dutch potter in the style of the Art Nouveau.Art Nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...
potter * Kees Smout (1876–1961) a Dutch sculptor *
Anton van Duinkerken Wilhelmus Johannes Maria Antonius Asselbergs (2 January 1903 in Bergen op Zoom – 27 June 1968 in Nijmegen), better known under his pseudonym Anton van Duinkerken, was a Dutch poet, essayist, and academic. Asselbergs considered a career as a pr ...
(1903–1968) a Dutch poet, essayist and academic * Louis Boekhout (1919–2012) a Dutch painter who emigrated to Québec, Canada *
Pleuni Touw Pleuni Touw (born 8 November 1938) is a Dutch film, television and theatre actress best known for her role in the 1974 miniseries '' De Stille Kracht'', which featured the first televised nude scene in Dutch history. Life and career Touw was bor ...
(born 1938) a Dutch film, television and theatre actress * Adriaan Ditvoorst (1940–1987) a Dutch film director, screenwriter *
Cornald Maas Cornald Maas is a Dutch television presenter who has been known for presenting talk shows in the Netherlands. He is the brother of Frans Maas. Early career He was an editor involved in ''The Scream of the Lion'' ( VARA) with Paul de Leeuw, ''So ...
(born 1967) a Dutch television presenter *
Martin Fondse Martin Fondse (February 20, 1967, Bergen Op Zoom) is a Dutch pianist and composer. He also plays the vibrandoneon, the baroque version of the melodica. He is a composer and arranger in the fields of jazz and contemporary music and he leads the Ma ...
(born 1967) a Dutch pianist and composer who plays the vibrandoneon * Bob van Luijt (born 1985) a Dutch technology entrepreneur, technologist and new media artist


Public thinking and public service

*
Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten Pieter Gerardus van Overstraten (19 February 1755, in Bergen op Zoom – 22 August 1801, in Batavia) was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1796 until 1801. He was the last Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company, which wa ...
(1755–1801) last
Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies The governor-general of the Dutch East Indies ( nl, gouverneur-generaal van Nederlands Indië) represented Netherlands, Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, indep ...
* Gerrit Verdooren van Asperen (1757–1824) vice-admiral of the
Royal Netherlands Navy The Royal Netherlands Navy ( nl, Koninklijke Marine, links=no) is the naval force of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. During the 17th century, the navy of the Dutch Republic (1581–1795) was one of the most powerful naval forces in the world an ...
* Gillis Pieter de Neve (1823-1883) commander of the
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army ( nl, Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger; KNIL, ) was the military force maintained by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in its colony of the Dutch East Indies, in areas that are now part of Indonesia. Th ...
* Albert Vogel (1874–1933) a Dutch Army officer and teacher * Peter Sitsen (1885–1945) a military officer, building contractor and public servant in colonial Indonesia *
Ed Nijpels Eduardus Hermannus Theresia Maria Nijpels (born 1 April 1950) is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and nonprofit director. Nijpels studied Civil law at the Utrecht University obtaining a Master of Studies ...
(born 1950) a retired Dutch politician * Virginie Korte-van Hemel (1929–2014) a Dutch politician *
Bernard de Wit Bernard Quirinus Petrus Joseph de Wit (born 1945 in Bergen op Zoom) is a Dutch theoretical physicist specializing in supergravity and particle physics. Bernard de Wit studied theoretical physics at Utrecht University, where he got his PhD under ...
(born 1945) a Dutch theoretical physicist and academic *
Paul Schnabel Paul Schnabel (born 17 July 1948) is a Dutch politician and sociologist who served on the Social and Economic Council (SER) from 2013 to 2015 and in the Senate on behalf of Democrats 66 (D66) from 2015 until 2019. Schnabel, a professor at Utrech ...
(born 1948) a Dutch sociologist, academic and politician *
Wim Crusio Wim E. Crusio (born Wilhelmus Elisabeth Crusio on 20 December 1954) is a Dutch behavioral neurogeneticist and a '' directeur de recherche'' (research director) with the French National Centre for Scientific Research in Talence, France. Educati ...
(born 1954) a Dutch behavioral neurogeneticist and academic *
Fatma Koşer Kaya Fatma Koşer Kaya (born February 20, 1968 in Çarşamba, Turkey) is a Dutch lawyer and politician of Turkish origin. As a member of Democrats 66 (D66) she was an MP from September 8, 2004 to September 19, 2012. She focused on social affairs. Fr ...
(born 1968) a Dutch lawyer and politician of Turkish origin


Sports

* Reindert de Favauge (1872–1949) sport shooter, competed at the 1908 &
1920 Summer Olympics The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische Sommerspiele 1920), officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIe olympiade; nl, Spelen van ...
* Henk Kersken (1880–1967) a sailor who competed at the
1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated fro ...
*
Barent Momma Barent Momma (15 February 1897 – 31 January 1936) was a Dutch modern pentathlete. He competed at the 1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad (fre ...
(1897–1936) a Dutch modern pentathlete, competed at the
1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIIe olympiade) and also known as Paris 1924, were an international multi-sport event held in Paris, France. The o ...
* Willem van Rhijn (1903–1979) a Dutch modern pentathlete, competed at the
1928 Events January * January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly proving the existence of DNA. * January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris Bazhano ...
and
1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held duri ...
* Janus van der Zande (1924–2016) a Dutch marathon runner, competed in the
1952 Summer Olympics The 1952 Summer Olympics ( fi, Kesäolympialaiset 1952; sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1952), officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad ( fi, XV olympiadin kisat; sv, Den XV olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Helsinki 1952 ( sv, Helsin ...
* Maarten Sikking (1948–2009) a field hockey goalkeeper, competed at the 1972 and
1976 Summer Olympics Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 ...
*
Rico Verhoeven Ricardo Verhoeven (born 10 April 1989) is a Dutch professional kickboxer who currently competes in the heavyweight division of GLORY, where he is the reigning Glory Heavyweight Champion. A professional since 2004, he also competed in the K-1, ...
(born 1989) a Dutch kickboxer *
Jacob Van Braam Jacobus van Braam (b. Bergen op Zoom, in the Netherlands, 1 April 1729, d. 1 August 1792 Charleville, France) was a sword master and mercenary who trained the 19-year-old George Washington in 1751 or shortly thereafter. He was also retained by W ...
(1729-1792) a soldier of fortune, swordmaster and mercenaryThe Encyclopedia Americana, Van Braam, Jacob
retrieved 06 October 2019


Music

* Julia Boschman (born 2002) a Dutch singer in famous girl group K3


International relations


Twin towns — sister cities

Bergen op Zoom is twinned with:


See also

* 12709 Bergen op Zoom * Fort de Roovere *
Black Death The Black Death (also known as the Pestilence, the Great Mortality or the Plague) was a bubonic plague pandemic occurring in Western Eurasia and North Africa from 1346 to 1353. It is the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, causi ...
* Crusio (ice cream parlor) * Merck toch hoe sterck


Notes


References


Further reading

* ''A Ballad on the Taking of Bergen-Op Zoom''. London: M. Cooper, 1747. * ''Merck toch hoe sterck''. The anthem of the city: A. Valerius, 1626. * Bot, Marie-Louise, and Gouke J. Bonsel. ''The Bergen Op Zoom-Quality of Life Survey: A Dutch Contribution to the Collaborative Study of the European Common Core Group''. Rotterdam: Dept. of Public Health and Social Medicine/Institute for Medical Technology Assessment, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 1989. * Edler, Florence. ''Attendance at the Fairs of Bergen-Op-Zoom 1538–1544''. Bergen op Zoom: .n. 1936. * Smyth, James Carmichael. ''Plans of the Attacks Upon Antwerp, Bergen-Op-Zoom, Cambray, Peronne, Maubeuge, Landrecy, Marienbourg, Philippeville and Rocroy, By the British and Prussian Armies in the Campaigns of 1814 and of 1815''. 1817. * ''1939–1945 The War Dead of the Commonwealth: The Register of the Names of Those Who Fell and Are Buried in Cemeteries in the Netherlands: Bergen Op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery''. Maidenhead: Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 1994.


External links

*
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bergen Op Zoom Cities in the Netherlands Municipalities of North Brabant Populated places in North Brabant