Breda Office Space Guide

[Updated Oct 2020] A guide to serviced offices and office space for rent in Breda as well as general information that may be useful if you are considering renting office space in Breda.

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History & Geography

Located in the south of the Netherlands, Breda is one of the most picturesque and historically significant cities in the Low Countries. Breda lies at the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa, from which its name is derived (‘brede Aa’ means ‘wide Aa’ in Dutch), and is surrounded by beautiful rolling green hills. The city first gained a municipal charter in 1252, with which came permission to fortify. At this time Breda extensive brick walls, reinforced gates and other fortifications. During the 15^th century, the city came into the possession of the famous house of Nassau, where it remained for several centuries. Breda suffered devastation in 1534 when more than 90 percent of the city was completely destroyed by fire. The town was rebuilt but was damaged further when it was captured by the Spanish during the Eighty Years’ War. Over 500 citizens of Breda were killed when the Spanish took the city, despite their promises to the contrary. In 1795 the city was passed to William I of Orange who was the instigator and leader of the Dutch Revolt, a revolt of the Dutch Protestants against the Catholics, backed by Spain. Breda remained in the hands of the House of Orange-Nassau until 1795 when it was taken by French revolutionary forces. During this time the city provided refuge to Charles II of England, then in exile. Over the centuries the presence of the House of Orange-Nassau had brought prestige to the town and many other nobles built extravagant villas nearby. The town itself also prospered and expanded and became strategically important. After occupation by revolutionary French forces, Breda fell back into control of the Dutch, where it remained until WWII when it was taken by German forces. However, Bred was liberated in 1944 by the Polish 1^st Armoured Division. Today Breda is a bustling town of over 300,000.

Economy

Traditionally Breda has had a strong agricultural industry, however, this all but disappeared during the 20^th century. Today Breda has a varied economy with several strengths. One of these bulwarks is the food and drink industry in the city. Breda is home to several large and successful Dutch companies such as the lemonade-maker Hero, Van Melle, the maker of the popular Mentos mint, and DeFaam, the liquorice manufacturer. Additionally, Kwatta Chocolate is based in the city as well as several other smaller food companies. In former times the city was the home of the largest brewery in the country, the Oranjeboom brewery, however, this was closed in 2004 on the orders of Interbrew, the brewery’s Belgian owner. Currently business and trade are also major sectors of the Breda economy. In 2011 a new central train station was built in the city which now connects Breda to most of the largest cities in Europe via the high-speed train. Breda is connected to Rotterdam, Brussels, Amsterdam and Antwerp via high-speed connections. Breda’s advanced infrastructure, as well as its efficient transportation links, are major factors in its growing industries of trade and commerce. The city’s well educated and skilled population is another important factor.

Tourism & Culture

While Breda does not have the large tourism industry that Amsterdam does, the city does attract a number of visitors and there is a host of things to see and do. Breda was never bombed extensively during WWII and so unlike many other old European cities has all of its ancient architecture still intact. The city is home to many buildings which are superb examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Among the more famous buildings are the Large Church and the Church of Our Lady. The city also has more museums than most, with the largest and most visited including Breda’s Museum, War and Peace Museum, and the Generaal Maczek Museum. The latter is a record of the liberation of the town by the Polish 1^st Armoured Division under General Maczek during WWII. The largest festival in Breda is Redheadday, which is a gathering of people who have naturally red hair. However, the festival is also a celebration of art created with the colour red. Visitors from over 20 countries attend the festival, which also features workshops, presentations and lectures.

Transportation

The city of Breda is served by two railway stations, Breda-Prinsenbeek and Breda. The stations provide transportation links to Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven. Cycling is a favoured way for the citizens of Breda to get around the city and Breda has an extensive system of cycling paths. Over 50 percent of Breda’s workforce get to work by cycling. The city also has an extensive bus system as well as taxis. The nearest major airport to Breda is the Rotterdam-The Hague Airport, which is the Netherlands’ third-largest airport and provides extensive connections to cities all over Europe.

Office space for rent in Breda

Breda’s economy proved resilient in the face of the recent financial crisis and the city currently enjoys a low unemployment rate and a fairly high level of income. The city’s efficient infrastructure and skilled workforce make it a popular place for businesses. However, the Netherlands overall has the highest office vacancy rate in Europe at 16 percent. Overbuilding and lax restrictions are the main causes of the country’s high vacancy rate. Over the last few years, many local authorities have been keen to cash in on land sales and banks have been willing to provide loans for projects. Breda reflects this in also having a high office vacancy rate. However, this also means that there is a ready supply of Grade A office space.

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