Bergen op Zoom
Cosy terraces, unusual shops, picturesque alleys and a medieval city palace. But also a beach, purple moors and vast forests. That's Bergen op Zoom: a historic fortified town, situated by the water and surrounded by greenery.
Bergen op Zoom is known for its beautiful historic city centre. Walking through the narrow alleys and across the cosy squares here, you can feel the atmosphere of a rich and eventful past, dating back more than eight hundred years. In the city centre alone, you will find more than 800 monuments! The most striking is het Markiezenhof, the city palace where the lords of Bergen op Zoom used to live. Inside, you will still find the Hofzaal with its carved Christoffelschouw, period rooms decorated as it was in former times and, in the attic, a very special fairground museum. Other notable monuments include the oude stadhuis, de Gevangenpoort and the Sint Gertrudiskerk, popularly called De Peperbus.
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Het Markiezenhof
The former residential palace of lords and marquises, is today one of the most beautiful city palaces in Western Europe.
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Fort de Roovere
Besides the Pompei Tower, the Mozesbrug should not be missed here. A unique bridge that splits the water.
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De Binnenschelde
A recreational lake with beach area and various facilities. Water sports enthusiasts are also well catered for here.
Bergen op Zoom used to be known as La Pucelle (the Virgin) because the fortified town was known as an impregnable fortress. Originally, the city was not only a trading town, but also a fair town. The first and last annual fair of the season were traditionally held here. Still today, Bergen op Zoom has a special annual fair: de Krabbenfoor. For this event, held in the last weekend of July, visitors come from far and wide.
Bergen op Zoom currently has over 66,000 inhabitants. The large number of volunteers in the city is striking: in associations, cultural life and the organisation of events. Therefore, there is something to do every weekend in Bergen op Zoom; big events like ProefMei, the Maria Ommegang, Open Monument Days, JazzBoZ and of course Vastenavend, as Carnival is called in our city. There are also numerous concerts, theatre performances, fairs, fabric markets, book markets, children's activities and much more. Residents, municipality and entrepreneurs together ensure a vibrant city centre.
But there is also plenty to enjoy outside the city. Thanks to its unique location on the Brabantse Wal, Bergen op Zoom is surrounded by beautiful nature. How about the world-famous Mozesbrug on Fort de Roovere, where you walk through the water, as it were? The purple glow of the Bergse Heide? Or water sports on de Binnenschelde, enjoying the beach and the cosy terraces on the Boulevard? The Brabantse Wal itself lies on the border of Brabant and Zeeland. Not for nothing is Bergen op Zoom also called "the place where Brabant kisses Zeeland".
Be prepared and pick up the Citymap from VVV Brabantse Wal and from the entrepreneurs. Or download the Citymap.