Vestingstad Bergen op Zoom

It is not entirely clear when Bergen op Zoom came into existence. What is known is that Bergen op Zoom obtained city rights from the lord of Breda between 1198 and 1212. In 1287 Bergen op Zoom was split from the Land of Breda. In the years after the split, a city wall was built around the city. In 1397 almost the entire city, including the archive, went up in flames. As a result, little of Bergen op Zoom's early history has been preserved and most of the city's historic buildings were also destroyed. In the 15th century, Bergen op Zoom had a time of economic prosperity. The annual fairs that took place twice a year were well known at home and abroad. Merchants from all over Europe came to these markets especially to sell their wares. In the 16th century, the economy declined, only to flourish again during industrialization in the 19th century. Nowadays, Bergen op Zoom still has a relatively large amount of industry.