Oss (Dutch: [ɔs] ) is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant, situated between Nijmegen and 's-Hertogenbosch.

Oss
Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception
Water tower
Water tower
Nijverheid windmill in Ravenstein
Nijverheid windmill in Ravenstein
Town gate and prison tower (de Gevangentoren) in Megen
Town gate and prison tower (de Gevangentoren) in Megen
Zeldenrust windmill in Geffen
Zeldenrust windmill in Geffen
Church of Saint Lambert in Haren
Church of Saint Lambert in Haren
Alticom communication tower of Ravensteinsedijk
Alticom communication tower of Ravensteinsedijk
Church of Saint Lambert in Lith
Church of Saint Lambert in Lith
Church of Sint-Jan de Doper in Neerlangel
Church of Sint-Jan de Doper in Neerlangel
Stella Polaris windmill in Dieden
Stella Polaris windmill in Dieden
Flag of Oss
Coat of arms of Oss
Highlighted position of Oss in a municipal map of North Brabant
Location in North Brabant
Coordinates: 51°46′N 5°31′E / 51.767°N 5.517°E / 51.767; 5.517
Country Netherlands
Province North Brabant
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorWobine Buijs-Glaudemans (VVD)
Area
 • Total
170.93 km2 (66.00 sq mi)
 • Land163.16 km2 (63.00 sq mi)
 • Water7.77 km2 (3.00 sq mi)
Elevation7 m (23 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total
92,526
 • Density567/km2 (1,470/sq mi)
DemonymOssenaar
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
5340–5351, 5366–5373
Area code0412, 0486, 073
Websitewww.oss.nl

Population centres

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Name Population
Berghem 6,900
Haren 785
Herpen 2,552
Lith 6,724
Macharen 722
Megen 1,686
Oss 57,980
Ravenstein 3,724

Topography

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Dutch Topographic map of Oss (municipality), June 2015

City center of Oss

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Oss has a shopping center with many squares, however, the only real shopping streets (also the best known) are the Heuvelstraat, Walstraat and the Peperstraat. The squares are connected with these shopping streets and passages that contain shops. One of the passages (The Passage, Dutch: de Passage, Local Dialect: 't Gengske) had an overhauling renovation in 2014. It now resembles an old Dutch street.

The city of Oss

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There is archaeological evidence that humans have lived in and around Oss for 4,000 years. Major archaeological finds were the Vorstengraf burial sites and the indigenous-Roman burial fields of Oss-Ussen.[5]

Oss was first mentioned in a letter by Pope Alexander II on 6 May 1069. Oss was granted city rights in 1399 by Hertogin (Duchess) Johanna van Brabant. Present-day Oss has several chemical and pharmaceutical industries like Merck & Co. (previously Schering-Plough, Organon and Diosynth). Oss is also host to the professional football team TOP Oss, and is the birthplace of former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Ruud van Nistelrooy, although he did not play for the local side, but for rivals FC Den Bosch.

The gothic metal/alternative rock band The Gathering, formed in 1989, originally hails from Oss.

Berghem

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Berghem is a small town east of Oss (population: 6,900). Berghem is currently being expanded with many new houses in the Piekenhoef.

Megen

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Megen is a small city (population: 1,686) close to the river Maas.

Megen used to be the 'capital' of the county Megen (including Haren, Macharen and Teeffelen) that was founded around 1145. City rights were obtained in 1357. In 1810, the County Megen became a municipality to which Haren and Macharen also belonged. It became part of the municipality of Oss in 1994.

Currently, there are two monasteries in Megen. One is inhabited by the Clarissas (also called the Poor Clares), followers of St. Clare of Assisi. The other is occupied by the Franciscans, followers of St. Francis of Assisi. Of the two castles Megen used to have, only one tower remains.

Ravenstein

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Ravenstein (population: 3,728) is a city and was a municipality until 2003, when it was added to the Oss municipality. The municipality covered an area of 42.68 km² and also included villages: Demen, Dennenburg, Deursen, Dieden, Herpen, Huisseling, Keent, Koolwijk, Neerlangel, Neerloon, Overlangel.

Ravenstein received city rights in 1380.

Transportation

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Notable residents

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The arts

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Maria Versfelt, ca.1820
 
Jacques de Kadt, 1980

Public thinking & public service

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Sport

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Ruud van Nistelrooy, 2017

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Samenstelling b&w" [Members board of mayor and aldermen] (in Dutch). Gemeente Oss. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Postcodetool for 5341GM". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Archaeology".
  6. ^ Callan, Charles J. (1912). "John Slotanus" . Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14.
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