Breda
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Introduction
Breda, often referred to as the ‘pearl of the south’, has approximately 170,000 inhabitants. There are a number of important developments in and around the city that are clearly related to the NHTV’s main disciplines. Breda is situated on the main traffic routes from the ‘Randstad’ (the urban area between Rotterdam, The Hague, Amsterdam and Utrecht) and Belgium and Germany, but also along the route of the TGV high-speed rail link. This strategic position has attracted many (multinational) industries. However, Breda’s importance for the economy is not merely a regional one: Breda has been assigned the status of urban center of development. As a result of this, more and more businesses settle within the city’s boundaries.
Going out in Breda
Breda boasts several entertainment areas. Around the Grote Markt and the Havermarkt in the center of the city there are numerous cafes and outdoor cafes, ranging from friendly quiet pubs to cafes with live music, student bars and discotheques; something to suit all tastes. In the summer it’s great fun to sit down and have a drink at one of the numerous sidewalk cafes in the city center and in the Ginneken district. Most bars are open until 2.00 a.m. from Monday through Sunday. The discotheques do not close until 4.00 a.m. from Thursday to Sunday. There is only 1 discotheque that is open all days of the week and the rest of the 3 discotheques are open from Thursday to Sunday. We also have Mezz Concerts&Dance here in Breda, that is a concert hall where all kinds of musicians come to play and all kinds of festivals are organized. Mezz can be found on the Keizerstraat in the center.
Some well-known bars and discotheques:
De Speeltuin (international student discount from Compass!), SamSam, Bruxelles, Bruine Pij, Walkabout, Dikke, Brooklyn, Janssen, Drie Gezusters, Zeezicht and many more. De Speeltuin is the favorite café for most international students as Compass gathers here every Wednesday evening, also on other days you will always meet some internationals to have a drink or to party with. At Ginnekenmarkt there are Boerke Verschuuren, Uncle Jean (good food as well), Klaarenbeek and others. Dancings in the center of Breda are Graanbeurs, Kerkplein, Liquid and Nachtwacht. Many parties and gatherings are organized by the various NHTV student unions and student organizations. Just keep an eye on the notice boards at school. All in all, students experience Breda as a pleasant place to study, live and enjoy themselves. After all, life cannot solely consist of studying.
Do you know a better cafe or disco? Add it on this page or discuss in the Forum!
Restaurants
- Living New York
Grote Markt 52, open every day: From 11.00 — 17.00 they serve the most delicious bagels and sandwiches (international student discount on all bagels when you show your Compass card). From 17.00 — 21.00 they have a delicious dinner menu. Prices are good compared to the excellent quality you get.
- De Boulevard
Grote Markt 8, tel: 076-514 63 99. Every day they serve a different menu at a budget price.
- Den Boerenstampot
Schoolstraat 3-5, tel: 076-514 01 62 Typical Dutch meals at a budget prices served in a traditional Dutch setting. Please reserve in advance.
- De Colonie
Grote markt 26-28, tel: 076- 521 40 82
- D’n Dikke van Dale
Pr. Hendrickstraat 69, tel: 076- 565 38 35
- Da Attilio (Italian)
Grote Markt 35-37, tel: 076- 514 3900. Very good Italian food
- Publieke Werken
St. Annastraat 12, tel: 076 - 521 86 25
- Saté Hut
Oude Vest 19, tel: 076-5143890. Please reserve in advance. Good lndonesian food for good prices.
Of course, Breda also has fast-food restaurants like McDonalds at Karnemelkstraat 5 and the Burger King at the train station. A nice movie about food in the Netherlands:
Sports facilities
BRESS organises weekly training sessions, sports for recreation, courses, tournaments, internal competitions and events. There is a weekly schedule for swimming, volleyball, gymnastics, basketball, rugby, badminton, jazz dance, fencing, athletics, bommen (moving to music) and all-round sports. At a reduced price you can take part in bowling, fitness, canoeing, skating, squash, tennis, snooker & pool, all-round sports. Courses are offered in rock & roll, netball, ultimate frisbee, golf, squash, indoor tennis, jazz dance, ski-gymnastics. Some courses are free of charge, others are not. The sports activities take place at different locations in and outside Breda. More detailed information about the times, possibilities, locations and prices are available at BRESS. To register as a member you will have to go to the BRESS office (address see below) and bring a recent passport photograph, your smartcard and money.
- OPENING HOURS BRESS BUREAU
Monday from 1.30 pm - 7.00 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1.30 pm - 5.00 pm
Lovensdijkstraat 63, Breda
T: 076-5250517
E: bress@avans.nl
www.bress.nl
Swimming pools
Indoor swimming pools
Terheijdenseweg 494, tel. 076-571 36 73
R Christiaanstr 2, tel. 076-524 65 00
Outdoor swimming pools
Wolfslaardreef 105, tel. 076-565 37 10
Aerobics and fitness
- Fitness centre Work Out New Style
Allerheiligenweg 83, tel. 076- 565 71 33
- Fitness centre Keep Fit
Oranjeboomstraat 2b, tel. 076- 519316
- Sportstudio Shape/Fitness centre Bodyline
Belcrumweg 58, tel. 076- 5812647
- Future Fitness
Teteringsedijk 297, tel. 076- 572 01 60
- Medifit (close to the NAC stadium)
Zoete Inval 29,
tel. 076- 2510203
If you are interested in football you can go and see a match in the stadium of our local football team NAC. They play in the Dutch national league. Usually, matches are played on Wednesdays or Saturdays. You can buy tickets from any of the local newspaper stands in Breda.
Cinemas
Most bars, restaurants and cinemas offer a leaflet called ‘De Uitloper’ (issued once a week), describing all cultural events, music performances and films that are scheduled during that week. They are placed in an obvious spot, mostly somewhere hanging on the wall.
Theater
You might want to visit the Chassé Theater close to the city center. All kinds of performances can be attended such as plays, cabaret, ballet and concerts. The theater program is published weekly in ‘De Uitloper’ or you can pick up the complete program booklet.
Casino
Shopping in Breda
The Breda inner city is the shopping area for the entire region. Not only is the number of stores still growing, the quality is improving as well. Since 1997 Breda has had a dynamic shopping center with more than 55 shops in the very heart of the city. Some department stores are HEMA, V&D and De Bijenkorf. Popular clothing stores are Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), Mango, Zara and Vero Moda. Opening hours are:
- Monday 1.00 a.m. to 6.00p.m.
- Tuesday - Friday 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
- Saturday 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
On Thursdays, the shops have late openings. this means that they stay open until 9.00 p.m.
Supermarkets
Some addresses of C1000 and AH supermarkets:
C1000
- Ginnekenweg 46
Albert Heijn
- Brabantplein 24
- Flierstraat 51
- Ginnekenweg 51
- Haagdijk 108
- Haagsmarkt 23
- Heksenwaag 2
- Kesterenaan 150
- Moerwijk 2
- Nieuwstraat 45
- Oude Terheijdenseweg 18
- Stationspein 16
- Valkeniersplein 2-b
Open air markets
Here you can buy all sort of things varying from food to clothes and shoes. Check the quality of the goods you buy. If you look good, you can certainly find bargains. The biggest in Breda are:
- Grote Markt
Tuesday 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m. and Friday 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 p.m.
- Nieuwe Haagdijk/Haagweg
Saturday 11.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.
Book Shops & Copy Shops
For many course modules you will have to buy one or more books. All books are available from Gianotten, Barones 29 63. They have special sections with books for NHTV students. We have a special English bookshop in Breda as well, Lattes and Literature. You can find that on the Nieuwstraat. Some photocopy services in Breda are:
- Copy Net
Van Coothplein 40-42, tel. 076-524 97 06
- Copy Time
Ginnekenweg 159, tel. 076- 5717924
Internet Cafes
