Breukelen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Breukelen
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Town and former municipality
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Bridge across the Vecht
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | Utrecht | ||
| Municipality | Stichtse Vecht | ||
| Area
(2006)
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| • Total | 48.65 km2 (18.78 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 44.48 km2 (17.17 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 4.17 km2 (1.61 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(1 January 2007)
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| • Total | 10,650 | ||
| Source: CBS, [1]. | |||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Website | www.breukelen.nl | ||
Breukelen is a lovely town in the Netherlands. It is located in the province of Utrecht, which is northwest of the city of Utrecht. The town sits along the beautiful Vecht river. It is also close to the Loosdrechtse Plassen lakes, which are popular for nature and tourism.
Breukelen is famous for being the namesake of Brooklyn, a large borough in New York City, USA.
Contents
Discovering Breukelen's Past
Breukelen has a long and interesting history. It started as a small village called Attingahem way back in the 7th century.
Early Beginnings and First Church
Around the year 720, a very important person named Saint Boniface built the first wooden church in the village. This was a significant step for the community.
In the 8th century, a nobleman from Friesland named Atte created a settlement here. He built a strong, fortified farm called the Breukelerhof. This farm helped protect the people living there.
Mansions and Changes Over Time
During the 17th century, many rich merchant families from Amsterdam built their grand mansions along the Vecht river. These beautiful homes showed the wealth of the area.
In 1672, a year known as the "Disaster Year," the village and its surroundings faced serious damage due to warfare. However, Breukelen recovered and continued to thrive.
On January 1, 2011, Breukelen joined with two other towns, Loenen and Maarssen. Together, they formed a new, larger municipality called Stichtse Vecht.
Breukelen's Link to Brooklyn
The famous borough of Brooklyn in New York City gets its name from Breukelen. This connection shows how Dutch history influenced places far away.
Nyenrode Business University
Breukelen is well-known because it is home to Nyenrode Business University. This university was founded in 1946. It offers higher education in business and finance. Many students come here to learn about the world of business.
Getting Around Breukelen
You can travel to and from Breukelen in several ways.
- Breukelen railway station
- Bus services 120, 130, 143, 524 and 526
Villages in the Former Municipality
The area that used to be the municipality of Breukelen included a few other villages. These were Breukelen itself, Kockengen, and Nieuwer-Ter-Aa.
Gallery
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Breukelen, castle/university Nijenrode
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Breukelen, drawbridge across the Vecht
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Breukelen, windmill
See also
In Spanish: Breukelen para niños
