Breukelen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbrøːkələ(n)] ) is a town and former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. It is situated to the northwest of Utrecht, along the river Vecht and close to the lakes of the Loosdrechtse Plassen, an area of natural and tourist interest. It is located in an area called the Vechtstreek. It is the namesake of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City, New York.
Breukelen | |
---|---|
Town and former municipality | |
Coordinates: 52°10′18″N 5°00′06″E / 52.17167°N 5.00167°E | |
Country | Netherlands |
Province | Utrecht |
Municipality | Stichtse Vecht |
Area (2006) | |
• 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) | |
• Total | 10,650 |
Source: CBS, [1]. | |
Time zone | UTC 1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC 2 (CEST) |
Website | www.breukelen.nl |
History
editBreukelen's history dates back to the 7th century, when it was a village named Attingahem. Around the year 720, the first wooden church was built in the village by Saint Boniface. In the 8th century, a Frisian nobleman named Atte established a settlement there, constructing a fortified farm named the Breukelerhof.[1]
During the 17th century, many wealthy Amsterdam merchant families built their mansions along the river Vecht. In the Disaster Year (1672) the village and its vicinity were severely damaged by warfare, if not looted and burned by the French.[2]
On 1 January 2011, Breukelen merged with Loenen and Maarssen to form Stichtse Vecht.
The New York City borough of Brooklyn in the United States is named after Breukelen (see History of Brooklyn).
Nyenrode Business University
editThe town is most well known for the being where Nyenrode Business University is located. Founded in 1946, Nyenrode is a university that offers business and finance-related higher education.
Transportation
edit- Breukelen railway station
- Bus services 120, 130, 143, 524 and 526
Villages
editThe former municipality of Breukelen consisted of the following villages: Breukelen, Kockengen, and Nieuwer-Ter-Aa.
Gallery
edit-
Breukelen, castle/university Nijenrode
-
Breukelen, drawbridge across the Vecht
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Breukelen, windmill
See also
edit- Film actor Rutger Hauer, who was born in Breukelen.
References
edit- ^ "Het dorp breukelen in lang vervlogen dagen - Histkringbreukelen.nl". www.histkringbreukelen.nl. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
- ^ Prins, Linda (2022-02-14). "De buitenplaatsen van Breukelen in het rampjaar (The mansions in Breukelen in the Disaster Year)". Dag van het kasteel (in Dutch).
Further reading
edit- Statistics are taken from the SDU Staatscourant