Breda is a city of 190,000 people (2026) in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It has a long history as a military stronghold and army base. Important parts of the Dutch military still reside here. The military character is still at the heart of town, as the national Dutch Military Academy resides in the historic Castle of Breda in the centre of the old town.
Understand
[edit]The VVV has 2 offices in town. The primary one is across the train station, but there's a smaller office with more limited opening hours on the Grote Markt.
- 1 Explore Breda Store - Tourist Information Office (VVV) (VVV Breda), Stadserf 2, ☏ +31 900-522 24 44, [email protected]. W-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 11:00 - 15:00.
- Breda municipal website
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]Breda does not have a commercial airport, but thanks to the excellent public transportation system of the Netherlands, it can be reached easily from numerous airports in the Netherlands and even in Belgium.
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS IATA) is the largest in the Netherlands and one of the most important global hubs, with extensive flight connection network across many continents. From the airport's train station (directly underneath the terminal), NS Dutch Railways operates frequent Intercity Direct high-speed rail service every 30 minutes to Breda. The journey takes 1 hour and costs €28.50 one-way (including €3.20 supplement for using the Intercity Direct)
- Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM IATA) is closer to Breda and served by a number of short-haul connections. From there, one needs to take RET's bus 33 to Rotterdam Centraal railway station and continue to Breda by the same Intercity Direct or regular Intercity to Breda. The total journey takes about an hour as well and costs €12.40 (Intercity Direct supplement does not apply, as it is only required for journeys including the stretch between Rotterdam and Schiphol).
- Eindhoven Airport (EIN IATA) is the country's second-largest airport by number of passengers, served mostly by low-fare traffic from all over Europe. Again, one needs to take a bus from the airport to Eindhoven's railway station and change to an Intercity train to Breda, with a total journey time of slightly above 1 hour and costs €14.22.
- Brussels Airport (BRU IATA) is another international and intercontinental hub close to Breda, with many flights to Africa in particular. It has an integrated train station as well with regular direct trains to Breda. The journey takes a bit more than an hour and costs €23.40.
Flibco also offers direct shuttle bus connections from both BRU IATA Brussels Airport and CRL IATA Charleroi Airport to Breda, providing a convenient cross-border transfer option. Shuttles run multiple times daily, and tickets can be booked online in advance.
By train
[edit]Breda is a major railway hub. Two railway lines meet at the Breda station - the north-south line from Rotterdam to the Belgian border, with further extensions to Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and The Hague, and the east-west line branching out in Breda through Tilburg towards Eindhoven and 's-Hertogenbosch. The latter connects to branches going to Utrecht, Arnhem, Nijmegen and Zwolle. A variety of trains, including frequently stopping Sprinters, traverse those lines connecting Breda not only to those major cities but also many smaller stations along the way, such as Delft. Pretty much all of the Netherlands can be reached from Breda by trains with one train change.
Premium Intercity Direct trains connect Breda to Amsterdam, Schiphol and Rotterdam without intermediate stops, running on the high-speed line. As of 2026, Breda again has direct international connections to Antwerp and Brussels.
Train schedules and ticket prices can be found on the Nederlandse Spoorwegen website or NS International.
By car
[edit]From Amsterdam, Breda can be reached by taking the A2 to Utrecht and then the A27. Breda is less than a 90 minute drive from the three main ferry ports in Holland. From Rotterdam, Breda can be reached by taking the A16 to Breda, which will take about 30 to 40 minutes. From Antwerp, Breda can be reached by taking the E19 to Breda through Hazeldonk, which will take about one hour.
By boat
[edit]P&O Ferries operates overnight ferry service between Hull, England and Rotterdam, the nearest port to Breda. The journey takes 12 hours.
Get around
[edit]
On foot
[edit]The city centre and most of the sights are easy to discover on foot.
By bike
[edit]Biking is a good option, and bikes can be rented at the train station bike parking.
By bus
[edit]The city bus is another option, circling through town. You can use 9292 to plan your trip.
You can pay for the bus fare by using contactless payment on your debit card. A typical bus trip inside the city costs around €2.
See
[edit]
- 1 Grote Kerk (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk). Built in the Brabantine Gothic style in the 15th and 16th centuries, the church dedicated to Our Lady (as Virgin Mary is most often referred to in the Netherlands) boasts a tower of almost 100 metres and one of the largest organs in the country. Inside you will find the Prinsenkapel, where members of the Orange-Nassau family had been buried until the city of Breda fell to the Spanish.
- 2 Old city hall (Oude Stadhuis). Compared to the large church, the city hall standing at its back in a wall of buildings lining up the elongated Grote Markt is inassuming at best. Apart from being a neat example of Dutch 18th-century architecture, quite ascetic compared to the raging rococo found in many other countries at that time. The building is now a historic monument and home to several works of art as well as tourist information, but the actual municipal facilities have been moved to a modern building on Claudius Prinsenlaan.
- 3 Castle of Breda. The castle originates in the 14th century and was substantially renewed in Renaissance style around 1540. Unfortunately, the castle is not available for visitors as it is home to the Military Academy since 1826, but of course it can still be admired from the outside.
- 4 Begijnhof, Catharinastraat 45 (city centre), [email protected]. Begijnhof and herb garden: daily 09:00 - 18:00; Museum: Th Sa Su 12:00 - 17:00. Much of the historic peace and tranquillity remains in this former Béguinage. Although no beguines remain, the small houses around the charming courtyard are still inhabited by single ladies. There's a herb garden and a small museum at nr. 29. Free, museum €2.
- 5 Sint-Antoniuskathedraal (Cathedral of Saint Anthony). Nestled in a side street (incidentally named after Saint John), the cathedral church of the long-standing diocese of Breda is much less imposing than the Grote Kerk, but quite unique in that it is a 19th-century creation built in neoclassical style, both inside and out, which is a relative rarity as far as cathedrals go, especially in the Netherlands.
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- 6 Koepelgevangenis, Nassausingel 26. A panopticon-style prison, whose name refers to the cupola topping the round building with prison cells stacked in rounds on the outside walls around a large covered courtyard. It is this prison that held the "Breda four" – the only German prisoners of war who served their sentences after the Second World War in the Netherlands for war crimes committed. The prison building complex is no longer in use and a national monument, but generally is not open for sightseeing.
- 7 Mastbos (south of the city and east of the A16). The largest forest and nature reserve in Breda, cultivated since the 16th century. It is a very nice area for hiking or running, with a decor made of European red pines and ponds.
Museums
[edit]The city has a number of museums worth noting.
- 8 Maczek Memorial, Ettensebaan 17A (behind the Polish military cemetary), ☏ +31 7 63 03 62 70. W F-Su 13:00-19:00. This museum is dedicated to the 1st Polish Armoured Division, which under the leadership of General Stanislaw Maczek liberated important areas of the Netherlands in 1944 and 1945. €5 for adults. Free for children..
- 9 Museum Paulus van Daesdonck, Pennendijk 1, Ulvenhout, [email protected]. Every first and third Sunday of the month and every Wednesday from 14:00 to 16:00. A museum about heritage from the area.
- 10 Princenhaags Museum, Haagweg 334, ☏ +31 7 65 21 47 17, [email protected]. Wednesday morning and sometimes weekends. Call in advance, you may need an appointment.. The museum is managed and operated by the Princenhaags Museum Foundation, which aims to preserve, document and, promote the cultural heritage of the village of Princenhage.
- 11 Stedelijk Museum Breda, Boschstraat 22, ☏ +31 76 529 99 00, [email protected]. Tu-F 11:00-17:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00. City and art/design museum. It has a permanent exhibition about the Nassaus and temporary exhibitions by local artists. €14.50 adults, €4.50 children 5 to 12 years old, €6.50 CJP and CKV pass holders, Student card holders or young people under the age of 18.
Do
[edit]Getting a guided tour through the old moats of Breda is a good way to discover the city. There's plenty of stories behind the historic façades. Book ahead via the tourist office, more information on their website. Alternatively, they sell a Dutch language booklet called "Historische Kilometer", which (if you can understand it) allows you to walk around yourself and still read up on the historic backgrounds. If you have a smartphone, you can enjoy walking around the city with free audio tours.
- 1 Beleef Breda (Canoe rentals), ’t Sas 8, ☏ +31 7 65 20 59 57, [email protected]. M-F 09:00-17:00 Sa-Su 13:00-17:00. Rent a canoe and make your own way through the Breda canals. On Saturday and Sunday you can rent one from the starting point at Spanjaardsgat without reservation. For other days, reservations are required and bookable via the website or the tourist office.
- 2 Eropuitje Breda, Korte Boschstraat 16, 4811 ES Breda (near Valkenberg city park), ☏ +31 85 800 1686, [email protected]. 10:00-19:00. Eropuitje Breda is a recreational activity provider in the city centre. The organisation offers, among other things, E-Chopper and E-Step rentals and tours, city games such as Levend Cluedo and Undercover, and group activities such as Team Games, Archery Tag, Bubble Football, and De Alleskunner, with activities taking place in the city and in the nearby Valkenberg city park. €23.50.
- 3 Park Valkenberg (halfway between the train station and the Grote Markts.). A large and pleasant park where you can have a picnic.
- 4 Rat Verlegh Stadion (NAC stadium), Stadionstraat 5 (north-west of the city centre). The NAC Breda football team were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in Eredivisie, the top tier. Their home ground Rat Verlegh Stadion has a capacity for 19,000 person.
Events
[edit]- (in the entire city centre), [email protected]. From 12:00. Carnaval takes place in the 4 days preceding the Christian season of Lent (around February). During this period Breda becomes Kielegat, loud music is played in the city centre and people wear costumes while consuming excessive amount of alcohol. It is obviously more fun on the first day than the last.
- Breda Jazz Festival (in the entire city centre), ☏ +31 6 22 32 74 85, [email protected]. From 13:00. This four day festival takes place in the month of May and features large outdoor jazz concerts with bands coming from all over the world. It is enjoyable even if you're not really into jazz. The main outdoor event is free, but some indoor events require tickets between €15 and €30.
Buy
[edit]Breda is a well-known shopping city in the Netherlands. In the old city centre you can find lots of clothing shops. You should visit the Wilhelminastraat. It is located just south of the city centre and hosts lots of exclusive shops. It has a very rich and nice atmosphere.
- 1 De Barones, De Barones 73, ☏ +31 7 65 33 05 50, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 09:30-18:00, Su M 12:00-17:00. The city centre's largest shopping mall. It contains a few clothing stores and a drugstore.
- 2 Market, Grote Markt. Tu 09:00-13:00, W 09:30-16:00, F 09:00-14:00. The market on the Grote Markt has mostly food stalls on Tuesday and Friday, and cultural shops on Wednesday.
Eat
[edit]There's a wide choice of restaurants available throughout the centre. The best places to search are around the historic market squares: the Grote Markt, the Havermarkt and the Veemarktstraat all have a number of nice establishments.
Budget
[edit]- 1 Cafetaria De Toren, Torenstraat 6 (very close to the Grote Kerk), ☏ +31762055214, [email protected]. Daily 12:00-21:00. A typical Dutch/Belgian fries shop with a wide variety of sauces and snacks. Fries for around €5.
- 2 Den Boerenstamppot, Schoolstraat 3. Tu-Sa 16:00-19:30. Traditional Dutch cuisine in an old Brabant atmosphere. €12.50 for a 3-course menu.
- 3 FOGO Bakehouse, Heuvelstraat 43 (between the city centre and Princenhage), ☏ +31 6 45 11 68 78, [email protected]. W-Sa 09:00-15:00. A high quality bakery and pastry shop. They also serve lunch and coffee. Tosties around €8; pastries around €5.
- 4 Foodhall Breda, Reigerstraat 24 (behind the Grote Kerk), ☏ +31 7 62 09 09 33, [email protected]. Tu-Su 12:00-21:30. A food hall with 14 kitchens serving food from all over the world. A wide variety of beers and drinks are available from the bar Below €20.
Mid-range
[edit]- 5 Bregje Breda, Haven 5A (alongside the canal, between Tol Brug and Hoge Brug), ☏ +31 7 67 37 00 23, [email protected]. Daily 17:00-22:00. Serves modern European food. €19.95 or €22.95 for a 3-course menu.
- 6 De jongens van zand en klei, Veemarktstraat 76, ☏ +31 7 68 86 23 72, [email protected]. M-Sa 12:00-15:30, 17:00-21:30. Sophisticated potato based food. Has many vegetarian options. 2-course menu for €39.50; 3-course for €49.50.
- 7 Hummus Falafel En Meer, Boschstraat 15, ☏ +31 6 19 50 68 88. Daily 12:00-19:00. Very good Jordanian food. Ideal for vegetarians. Menus for €18.50 or €21.00.
Splurge
[edit]- 8 Con Fuego, Grote Markt 24, ☏ +31 7 68 70 01 79, [email protected]. Daily 12:00-21:00. An upscale steak house serving various cuts originating from all over the world. between €50 and €100.
- 9 Restaurant Chocolat, Chassé Botanique, Parade 12B (inside the Chassé Botanique building), ☏ +31 7 65 33 59 75, [email protected]. M-Sa 12:00-24:00. Contemporary French cuisine. Lunch menus between €38 and €58; dinner menus between €65 and €95.
- 10 Zuyd, Ginnekenweg 35, ☏ +31 7 65 15 13 40, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 12:00-14:30, 18:00-22:00; closed Su M. Call ahead, as this ambitious place gets raving reviews and is regularly booked full. It offers fine dining French cuisine in a modern restaurant. The service is good too. Lunch menus between €45 and €75; dinner menus between €70 and €100.
Drink
[edit]Drink real Belgian and Brabants beer on Grote Markt or Havermarkt square. Explore the nightlife on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays around Havermarkt square
- 1 Bierreclame Museum, Haagweg 375 (at the entrance of Princenhage), ☏ +31 7 65 22 09 75, [email protected]. Su 11:00-23:00. While it is a museum, the main appeal of the place is to have a drink there. This place is decorated with around a 1000 enamel signs and antique posters of old beer adverts. They serve a wide variety of local and foreign beers. Free admission.
- 2 Brouwcafé Frontaal, Liniestraat 31, ☏ +31 76 785 4329, [email protected]. W-Su 16:00-23:00. A bar operated by a local brewing company, with a wide selection of hipster beers. Beers between €3 and €15.
- 3 Café & Brouwerij De Beyerd, Boschstraat 26 (next to the city museum), ☏ +31 7 65 21 42 65, [email protected]. Th-Tu 10:00-01:00. A bar serving a wide selection of local beers, some brewed by themselves. It also has a selection of traditional Dutch snacks. Beers between €3 and €8.
- 4 Mad Molly's Irish Pub, Schoolstraat 6, ☏ +31 76 889 3688, [email protected]. Daily 17:00-02:00. An Irish pub that is popular amongst the English-speaking expat crowd. Serves guiness and regularly has sports on TV. Beers around €5.
Sleep
[edit]Mid-range
[edit]- 1 Hotel Keyser Breda, Keizerstraat 5, ☏ +31 7 65 20 51 73, [email protected]. Good quality hotel with friendly staff and spacious rooms. It's just outside the city centre but still at easy walking distance. There's no private parking, so if you come by car, you'll need to park for a fee at one of the public parkings. From €75.
- 2 Hotel Sutor, Catharinastraat 2, ☏ +31 6 57 99 59 91, [email protected]. In the centre of town, in the lively bar district, which can cause some noise at night. For the rest, rooms are simple but good. There's no elevator, so you'll need to carry your luggage up the stairs. From €90.
Splurge
[edit]- 3 Hotel Nassau Breda, Autograph Collection, Nieuwstraat 23, toll-free: +31-76-8884921. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. This luxurious boutique hotel is a part of Marriott's Autograph Collection and is located in a complex of converted historic residential and religious buildings. From €200.
Camping
[edit]- 4 Camping Liesbos, Liesdreef 40, 4838GV (6.5 km WSW from Breda centre), ☏ +31 76 514 35 14, [email protected]. Mainly chalets but area for tents. Site uses cardkey system so you pay deposit on the card plus a pre-payment and deposit/unused pre-pay is refunded (pre-pay used for e.g. showers). Credit cards accepted. 1 person, 1 tent, 1 bike €10.31.
Stay safe
[edit]Breda is generally a very safe city and the risk of being pickpocketed or attacked is minimal. There is no problem walking around town alone at night.
However, due to its proximity to the cities of Antwerp and Rotterdam, drug trafficking does occur in the city. If you are approached by an unknown person asking if you want to carry packages to France or Belgium, it is recommended to ignore them.
Coffeeshops in Breda will not sell cannabis to people who do not reside in the Netherlands. You will be asked to prove your residency before purchasing.
Connect
[edit]The city has excellent 5G coverage. Free wifi can be accessed in the public library (on Molenstraat 6).
If you head toward the south (for example in Mastbos), your phone might automatically switch from to the Belgian phone network (which could incur roaming charges).
Go next
[edit]Some nearby destinations of interest are:
- Tilburg, student city famous for its 10-day-long fun fair in July, which is the largest in the Benelux.
- Kaatsheuvel, equally famous for fun, as it is home to the Efteling theme parc.
- Dordrecht, major historic trade port with a well preserved medieval old town and hundreds of monuments.
- Antwerp, this historic Belgian town is less than 45 minutes from Breda.
- Rotterdam, the second largest city in the Netherlands.
| Routes through Breda |
| Rotterdam ← Dordrecht ← | N  S
|
→ Antwerp → Brussels |
| Almere ← Gorinchem ← | N  S
|
→ END |
| Vlissingen ← Roosendaal ← | W  E
|
→ Tilburg → Eindhoven |