breda

Breda is a city and municipality in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. It lies along the Mark River near the Belgian border, about 60 kilometers southwest of Utrecht and 25–30 kilometers from Antwerp. The city has roughly 180,000 residents and serves as a regional center for governance, education, and commerce.

Breda's origins lie in the Middle Ages, when it developed from a fortified settlement into a town with city rights in the 13th century. It is best known for the Siege of Breda (1624–25) during the Eighty Years' War, when the Dutch Republic forced the Spanish garrison to surrender; the event inspired Velázquez's painting The Surrender of Breda.

Notable sights include the Grote Kerk, a 15th-century church in the city center, the Begijnhof Breda, a historic beguinage, and the Castle of Breda, a well-preserved fortress and landmark. The Chassé Theatre and the Grote Markt are central to contemporary cultural life.

Breda hosts Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas), with programs in aviation, hospitality, and tourism, along with campuses of Avans University of Applied Sciences. The local economy combines services, logistics, and manufacturing. The city is connected by rail to major Dutch cities and to Belgium, and by the A16 and A27 motorways linking to Rotterdam, Antwerp, and beyond.

Breda may also refer to other uses, including a surname or other places and institutions named Breda.