(Redirected from Noord-Brabant)
'North Brabant' (
Dutch: ''Noord-Brabant'', ) is a
province of the
Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by
Belgium in the south, the
Meuse River (''Maas'') in the north,
Limburg in the east and
Zeeland in the west. See
Google maps.
History
Until the
17th century, the area that now makes up the province of North Brabant was mostly part of the
Duchy of Brabant, of which the southern part is now in present-day
Belgium. In the
14th and
15th century, the area experienced a golden age, especially the cities of
Leuven (Louvain),
Antwerp (both now in Belgium),
Breda and
's-Hertogenbosch (Bois-le-Duc).
After the
Union of Utrecht was signed in
1579, Brabant became a battlefield between the Protestant
Dutch Republic and Catholic
Spain, which occupied the southern Netherlands. As a result of the
Peace of Westphalia, the northern part of Brabant became part of the Netherlands as the
territory of Staats-Brabant. (State Brabant) Under
federal rule (the founding
provinces of the
Dutch Republic were self-governing).
Attempts to preach Protestantism failed, and the area served mainly as a military buffer zone. In
1796, when the Netherlands became the
Batavian Republic, Staats-Brabant became a province as ''Bataafs Brabant''. This status ended with the reorganisation by the
French, and the area was divided over several departments.
In
1815, Belgium and the Netherlands were united in the
United Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the province of North Brabant was established, in order to distinguish it from South Brabant, in present-day Belgium, which separated from the Kingdom in
1830. This boundary between the Netherlands and Belgium is special in that it does not form a contiguous line, but there are a handful of tiny enclaves (and enclaves inside enclaves) on both sides of the border, such as
Baarle-Hertog. When the province was founded, its territory was expanded with a part of the province of
Holland and the former territory of
Ravenstein which had previously belonged to the
Duchy of Cleves, as well as several small, formerly autonomous entities.
From the end of the
19th century, the province has grown increasingly industrialised. Textile production was centred in
Tilburg and
Helmond, while the town of
Eindhoven has grown to the country's 5th large city thanks to the
Philips and
Van Doorne's Automobiel Fabriek (DAF) companies.
Politics
The provincial council (''Provinciale Staten'') has 79 seats, and is headed by the
Queen's Commissioner, currently
Hanja Maij-Weggen. While the provincial council is elected by the inhabitants, the Commissioner is appointed by the Queen and the cabinet of the Netherlands. With 28 seats, the Christian-Democratic
CDA is the largest party in the council.
The daily affairs of the province are taken care of by the ''Gedeputeerde Staten'', which are also headed by the Commissioner; its members (''gedeputeerden'') can be compared with ministers.
Municipalities
North Brabant is currently divided into 68 municipalities. Traditionally, almost every town was a separate municipality, but their number was reduced greatly in the
1990s by incorporating smaller towns into neighbouring cities or by other mergers. The municipalities in North Brabant are:
Geography
Like most of the Netherlands, North Brabant is mostly flat. While most of the population lives in urban areas, much of the province is uninhabited even though most of the land is cultivated. Consistent with naturally raised areas, forests, heathlands and dune areas can also be found.
The province is bordered by the
Meuse River in the north. Its delta flows through the
Biesbosch area, a national park.
Economy
Employment is found in the
agricultural,
industrial and
service sectors. The main agricultural products are
wheat and
sugar beet, while
cows and
pigs are held as livestock. The chief industries are automobile production, electronics (both mainly in Eindhoven), textile and shoes.
In the twentieth century,
tourism has become an important sector for North Brabant, the woods and its quiet atmosphere combined with the beauty of some of the cities having proved successful. Another big tourist attraction is theme park
Efteling in
Kaatsheuvel, the largest of the Benelux.
External links
★
Official Website (in Dutch)
★
Province map showing subdivision in municipalities
★
Merger Geldrop and Mierlo 1 Jan 2004, with map, http://www.geldrop-mierlo.nl/
★
Deltaworks Online - Flood protection of North Brabant and Deltaregion
★
Tourist information region Meierij & Northeast Brabant
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