Sunrise in Breda by Jesper Stegers

About "Sunrise in Breda"

by Jesper Stegers

About the artwork

The photo was taken in Breda, near the so-called Spanjaardsgat.

The Spanjaardsgat is a water gate that lies between the Granate Tower and the Dovecote Tower of Breda Castle in the centre of Breda. The water gate can normally only be seen from the outside, but for guided tours of the castle grounds also from the inside. It is located near the harbour.

For many, however, the Spaniard's Hole symbolises the entrance to the castle grounds where, in 1590, State soldiers led by Charles de Heraugiere began the conquest of Breda from an Italian garrison under Spanish command. At that time, the State soldiers had hidden under a pile of peat in a peat barge belonging to Adriaan van Bergen from Leur, an old idea of William of Orange. The Spanjaardsgat, however, was only built 20 years later after the aforementioned event with the Breda Turfschip. Nowadays the Spanjaardsgat with the towers are in use by the Dutch Defence Academy. The Spanjaardsgat, and the nearby bridge, are iconic for the city of Breda. The bridge next to the Spanjaardsgat was replaced in 2007 by a new one in connection with the return of the port. The many locks on the railings show that this place is also special for loved ones. The Spanjaardsgat is regularly used as a backdrop for projected art and concerts on pontoons in front of it. Only on the annual Nassaudag (Whit Monday) can special boat trips be made through the Spanjaardsgat where the