Breda

Understand

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.

Breda municipal website

thumb|In summer, outdoor café terraces on the Grote Markt quickly fill up.

See

thumb|right|Grote Kerk seen from the Grote Markt thumb|right|Oude Stadhuis thumb|right|Castle of Breda thumb|The Begijnhof is a peaceful place, much like it was 100 years ago. thumb|right|Interior of the Cathedral of Breda thumb|right|Koepelgevangenis seen from the Nassausingel thumb|Breda Museum in the winter

Do

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. Football:

Buy

In the old city centre you can find lots of clothing shops. You should visit the Wilhelminastraat, just south of the city centre, with a very rich and nice atmosphere.

Eat

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.

Drink

Drink real Belgian and Brabants beer on Grote Markt or Havermarkt square. Explore the nightlife on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays around Havermarkt square.

Stay safe

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

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

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. Efteling, the biggest theme park in the Netherlands, located in the nearby village of Kaatsheuvel. 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.