• Nassau-Baroniemonument - The Nassau Monument or Barony Monument honors the arrival of the German count Engelbrecht van Nassau in the Netherlands. The three reliefs depict how he and his wife, 11-year-old Johanna van Polanen, born in Breda, were inaugurated as Lord and Lady of Breda. Their marriage laid the foundations for the House of Orange Nassau, the Dutch royal family.
• Stadspark Valkenberg - Valkenberg Park is a green oasis in downtown Breda. Once exclusive to castle residents and their guests until the early 19th century, it is now a popular meeting place. Students come here to enjoy the sun or the shade of century-old trees. Parents let their children play in the playground while they relax at the T-Huis terrace. Even the chickens and geese feel at home here.
• Begijnhof - Beguines were single women who formed a community within the church but did not take perpetual vows. They earned their living by running a custodial school, caring for the sick, manual labor, and praying for the deceased for a fee.
• Waalse Kerk Breda - Immediately on the left in Catharinastraat, you’ll find the Waalse Kerk, a typical medieval city chapel and the only preserved Gothic chapel from the early 15th century. Built as the Wendelinus Chapel by Johanna van Polanen, it later became the church for the beguines after the Beguinage relocated. The church was later used by the Walloon congregation, with officers and cadets having their own pews. Poet Jacques Perk’s father served as the Walloon minister here from 1868 to 1872. Today, the church hosts exhibitions, concerts, and receptions.

In June, July, and August, the church is open to the public on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00. However, due to circumstances, the Walloon Church may sometimes be closed. Check the website for current opening hours.

• Willem Merkxtuin - In 1984, Ir. Willem Merkx retired as mayor of Breda and wished to transform the wasteland behind the courthouses on Catharinastraat into a beautiful garden. As a farewell gift, the people of Breda created this sculpture garden for him. From the Merkxtuin, you can enjoy a view of the back of the patrician houses on Catharinastraat. The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and entry is free.

On market days, it is also a great place to listen to the carillon of The Grote Kerk at 11 a.m.

• Grote Markt - The Grote Markt is the heart of Breda, where terraces fill up as soon as the sun appears. Enjoy a drink under the shady plane trees or choose from one of the many restaurants for a delicious lunch or dinner.

Grote Markt then and now
The Grote Markt, the city’s highest point, has been a marketplace for centuries, initially trading grains. The general goods markets, currently held on Tuesday and Friday mornings, date back to 1321. Since the 17th century, the city carillonneur has played the carillon of De Grote Toren during market days.

The Grote Markt was also the site for executions. The clock in the City Hall turret summoned curious residents to witness these events. Today, it is a much more pleasant place.

• Grote of Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk - The 15th-century Grote Kerk or Onze Lieve Vrouwe Church is Breda’s pride. Originally Catholic, it became a Reformed church after the iconoclasm. Count Engelbrecht van Nassau commissioned its construction in the 15th century, including a crypt for his family. Nine Nassaus and the first Prince of Orange are buried here.
• Havermarkt - The Havermarkt and surrounding streets have long been Breda’s nightlife center. This cozy square at the foot of the Grote Kerk is home to various nightlife venues. The same is true for Vismarktstraat, Visserstraat, and Haven.

Despite its name, cereals were not traded at Havermarkt but at the Grote Markt. Farmers from the surrounding areas sold vegetables, eggs, and butter here. In the 17th century, there was also a leather market. The old names of this square—Groenmarkt, Botermarkt, and Korenmarkt—reflect its historical functions.

• Kasteel Van Breda - Breda Castle was the ancestral home of the Nassaus, the ancestors of the Dutch royal family. Due to the Nassaus’ significant international role, the castle was an important European site from the 15th to 17th centuries.

A fortification existed on the current castle site as early as 1198. The castle came into Nassau hands in the early 15th century through the marriage of German count Engelbrecht van Nassau to Breda’s Johanna van Polanen.

The castle has been continuously demolished and rebuilt over the centuries.

• Comprehensive online instructions with riddles and hints included
• No additional fees required during the tour