Zundert

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Coordinates: 51.47° N 4.67° E

Zundert
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Brabant
Coordinates	51.47° N 4.67° E
Area	119.84 km²
- Land	119.60 km²
- Water	0.24 km²
Population (2006)	20,772
- Density	174/km²
Mayor	Iz Keijzer (VVD)
Website	http://www.zundert.nl

Zundert (pronunciation (help·info)) is a municipality and a town in Noord Brabant, the Netherlands.

Zundert lies about 10 metres above Dutch sea level (NAP), and is located 15 km south-west of the city of Breda, and 35 km north-east of Antwerp, Belgium. Zundert is surrounded by the municipalities Etten-Leur and Breda on the north, Hoogstraten (Belgium) on the east, Wuustwezel (Belgium) on the south, Kalmthout (Belgium) on the southwest, and Essen (Belgium) and Rucphen on the west.

Contents 1 Population centres 2 The municipality 3 Vincent van Gogh 4 Town 5 Events 6 External links

[edit] Population centres

• Zundert (population: 7,520)
• Rijsbergen (6,210)
• Klein-Zundert (2,580)
• Wernhout (2,570)
• Achtmaal (1,680)

[edit] The municipality

Zundert is one of the most agricultural municipalities of the Netherlands. 10% of all nurseryman of the Netherlands are located in Zundert. Production of strawberries and young field grown trees an hedging plants are very important in the area.

After the municipal redivision in 1997, Zundert was expanded with the former municipality of Rijsbergen.

Zundert, Achtmaal, Klein Zundert, Wernhout and Rijsbergen were all liberated on October 25, 1944 by the American 104th Infantry Division 415th regiment, "the Timberwolf Division" [1]

[edit] Vincent van Gogh

Zundert is the birthplace and childhood home of the famous painter Vincent van Gogh. He was born on 30th March 1853 in a little house on Zunderts main street, "Markt 29". The former house is gone as it was too dilapidated to preserve, but a plaque at this location still commerates his birth. There are plans to accommodate a museum in the building of Markt 29. There is a statue made by the French artist Ossip Zadkine of Vincent and his brother Theo on the "Vincent van Gogh Plein" (Vincent van Gogh square), and people can still visit the Dutch Reformed church build in 1806 in which the father of Vincent, Theodorus van Gogh, started preaching in 1849. In the graveyard is the grave of Vincent's one year younger brother, who died soon in infancy - also called Vincent van Gogh. Vincent did not paint when he lived in Zundert, but drew some sketches.

[edit] Town

At a small distance from the town, an old tavern called "In Den Anker" can be found, which has the oldest license in the Netherlands. It originally dates from 1635, but was rebuilt in 1913.

The town is the home of an 17th century windmill, called 'De Akkermolen' (The Croftmill). The Catholic church of Zundert was build in 1927, and contains art treasures from the 17th century, coming from the St. Michielsabdij in Antwerp.

The town hall of Zundert was built in 1830 in neoclassical style and demolished and rebuild in the same style in 1965

[edit] Events

Zundert boasts the oldest (since 1936) and hugeley elaborate Flower parade in Europe, held on first Sunday in September. Depending on the weather, about 50.000 people attend. Huge lorry mounted sculptures covered in thousands of Dalia flowers parade through the town Each district of Zundert constructs their own entry.

There is also an annual international triathlon in Zundert, today called 'De Bode Triathlon', named after its biggest sponsor. The 2006 edition of this triathlon however couldn't go on, because problems with the quality of the swimming water.

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Web-portal of the municipality of Zundert
• The liberation of Achtmaal
• Official site of the flower parade

North Brabant Province
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