Roosendaal Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Roosendaal

Aerial view of Roosendaal

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in North Brabant

Roosendaal

Location in Netherlands

Roosendaal

Location in Europe

Established

1 January 1997

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

107.16 km² (41.37 sq mi)

• Land

106.42 km² (41.09 sq mi)

• Water

0.74 km² (0.29 sq mi)

Elevation

3 m (10 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

76,959

• Density

723/km² (1,870/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Roosendaler, Roosendaalder

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

4700–4709, 4724–4727

Area code

0165

Dutch Topographic map of Roosendaal, March 2014.

Roosendaal is a city and a municipality in the southern Netherlands. It is located in the province of North Brabant.

Exploring Roosendaal's Communities
- Towns and Villages in Roosendaal
The City of Roosendaal
Getting Around: Transport in Roosendaal
Staying Healthy: Medical Care
Fun Events in Roosendaal
Famous People from Roosendaal
- Sports Stars from Roosendaal
Gallery
See also

Exploring Roosendaal's Communities

Roosendaal is a municipality made up of several towns and villages. Each one has its own unique charm.

Towns and Villages in Roosendaal

Roosendaal (population: 66,760)
Wouw (4,920)
Heerle (1,900)
Nispen (1,440)
Wouwse Plantage (1,230)
Moerstraten (660)

The City of Roosendaal

Roosendaal became an official city in 1809. This happened under King Louis Bonaparte of the Kingdom of Holland.

How Roosendaal Grew

The city of Roosendaal has changed over time. In 1997, two areas, Roosendaal en Nispen and Wouw, joined together. This created the larger municipality we know today as Roosendaal.

A Look Back at Roosendaal's History

Roosendaal's story began a long time ago, in the 12th and 13th centuries. The name "Rosendaele" was first written down in 1268. The city was always part of North Brabant.

In the Middle Ages, Roosendaal grew because of its peat business. Peat is like soil that can be burned for fuel. However, the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) caused problems. Soldiers moved through the area, causing damage. For many years, the countryside around Roosendaal was empty.

During World War II, German forces occupied the city.

Sports in Roosendaal

If you love football, you might know about RBC. This is Roosendaal's main football team.

Military Presence in Roosendaal

Roosendaal is home to the Korps Commandotroepen. This is a special forces unit in the Dutch army. Their main base, the Engelbrecht van Nassaukazerne, is located here.

The Royal Marechaussee, which is like a military police force, also had a presence in the city for many years. They kept a small office at the railway station. This was because the station connects directly to Belgium.

Getting Around: Transport in Roosendaal

Roosendaal has an important railway station. It's a key spot for trains in the region.

Trains from Zwolle start and end here. The Intercity train from Amsterdam to Vlissingen also stops at the station. Until 2018, an international train to Brussels stopped here too. Now, there's still a train that goes to Antwerp every hour.

Staying Healthy: Medical Care

The Bravis Ziekenhuis Roosendaal is the main hospital for people living in Roosendaal. It offers many types of medical care.

Special departments include:

Cardiology (heart care)
Dermatology (skin care)
Gynaecology (women's health)
Oncology (cancer care)
Ophthalmology (eye care)
Intensive Care (for very sick patients)

Fun Events in Roosendaal

Roosendaal hosts several exciting events throughout the year:

Carnaval: A big celebration with parades and costumes.
Draai van de Kaai: A popular cycling race.
Annual "International ABBA Day": This is a weekend event for fans of the music group ABBA. ABBA's official fan club is based in Roosendaal!

Famous People from Roosendaal

Many interesting people have come from Roosendaal:

Fons Rademakers, 1986

Cornelis of Glymes (1458–1508/1509): A famous Dutch admiral.
Hendrick Lonck (1568–1634): The first Dutch sea captain to reach the New World.
Léon Orthel (1905–1985): A talented classical pianist and composer.
Fons Rademakers (1920–2007): An actor, film director, and producer.
Jack Jersey (1941–1997): A popular singer-songwriter.
Frans Bauer (born 1973): A well-known Dutch singer.
Jeroen van Koningsbrugge (born 1973): An actor, comedian, and TV presenter.
Jesse Klaver (born 1986): A political leader in the Netherlands.

Sports Stars from Roosendaal

Roosendaal has also produced many great athletes:

Harry Broos, 1928

Harry Broos (1898–1954): A sprinter who won a bronze medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics.
Antoine Mazairac (1901–1966): A cyclist who won a silver medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Theo Laseroms (1940–1991): A footballer with over 400 club games.
Bram Lomans (born 1975): A hockey player who won two gold medals at the Olympics (1996 and 2000).
Tim van Rijthoven (born 1997): A professional tennis player.
Niek van der Velden (born 2000): A snowboarder and Roosendaal Sportsman of the Year in 2017.