Oosterhout facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oosterhout
Municipality
Market square in Oosterhout
Flag Coat of arms
Location in North Brabant
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Brabant
Government
• Body	Municipal council
Area
• Total	73.09 km2 (28.22 sq mi)
• Land	71.47 km2 (27.59 sq mi)
• Water	Template:Dutch municipality water km2 km2 (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population  (May 2014)
• Total	53,771
• Density	752/km2 (1,950/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Oosterhouter
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode	4849, 4900–4911
Area code	0162

Dutch Topographic map of Oosterhout, as per March 2014

Oosterhout (pronounced like OH-ster-howt) is a city and a municipality in the southern Netherlands. The name Oosterhout means "eastern woods." It is located in the province of North Brabant. In 2014, about 53,771 people lived there.

Towns and Villages

The municipality of Oosterhout includes the main city of Oosterhout and several smaller towns and villages. These places are part of the larger Oosterhout area.

History of Oosterhout

Oosterhout has a long and interesting history. It was first mentioned in official records in 1277. However, old digs show that people lived here even in prehistoric times.

Early Settlements

The Knights Templar, a famous group of knights, had a special building here. It was a temple dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Oosterhout was also home to a castle. This castle grew powerful and controlled the areas around it.

War and Damage

Sadly, the castle was destroyed in 1573 during the Eighty Years War. This was a long war between the Netherlands and Spain. Today, only one tower of the old castle remains. In 1625, the city was attacked again by Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. This attack caused a lot of damage to Oosterhout.

Industry and City Rights

For a long time, Oosterhout was known for its ceramics industry. People made pottery and other clay items here until the 1800s. Even though many people became Protestant, Oosterhout remained home to several Catholic monasteries. One of these, the Premonstratensian monastery, is still active today. Oosterhout officially became a city in 1809. This happened because Louis Bonaparte, who was the king of Holland at the time, wanted it to be a city.

Cool Places to See

Oosterhout has several interesting historical sites you can visit.

• Slotjes (Castle): This is what remains of the old castle. It's a reminder of Oosterhout's past.
• Unfinished Basilica of St. John: A basilica is a large, important church. A Romanesque church stood here in 1277. But from 1473, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style. It was finished in 1493, and its tall tower was built between 1519 and 1552. It has been repaired many times over the years.
• Monastery of St. Catherine: This building was once a castle belonging to the Knights Hospitaller. They were another group of knights, similar to the Knights Templar.
• Slotbossetoren: This is another tower from a destroyed castle.

Culture and Art

In Slotpark, you can find a group of statues called De anoniemen. These statues were created by an artist named Paul Elshout. They add to the city's cultural scene.

Sports in Oosterhout

Oosterhout is a great place for sports! It has many different sports clubs for various activities.

Sports Clubs

Here are some of the sports clubs you can find in Oosterhout:

Famous People from Oosterhout

Many interesting people have come from Oosterhout, including scientists, artists, and athletes.

• Willem Hendrik de Vriese (1806–1862): A Dutch botanist and doctor who studied plants.
• Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje (1857–1936): A Dutch expert on cultures from the Middle East and Asia.
• Marinus De Jong (1891-1984): A Belgian composer and pianist who was originally from the Netherlands.
• Gerrit Brokx (1933–2002): A Dutch politician.
• Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Liesen (born 1960): A Dutch clergyman and bishop.
• Mirjam Mous (born 1963): A Dutch author who writes books for children.
• Marlies Dekkers (born 1965): A Dutch fashion designer.
• Peter Kops (born 1967), also known as Extince: A Dutch rapper.
• Sander P. Zwegers (born 1975): A Dutch mathematician and professor.

Famous Athletes

Willem Hendrik de Vriese, 1891

Jennifer Vreugdenhil, 2019

• Kees Pijl (1897–1976): A Dutch football player who played many games for Feyenoord. He even competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
• Wanny van Gils (1959–2018): A Dutch football player and coach.
• Kelly van Zon (born 1987): A Dutch table tennis player.
• Wesley Vissers (born 1993): A Dutch professional bodybuilder.
• Jennifer Vreugdenhil (born 1995): A Dutch football player.

Images for kids

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  Katjeskelder Oosterhout

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  Oosterhout centrum

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  Put van Caron Oosterhout

See also

In Spanish: Oosterhout para niños