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Town in Voorne aan Zee, the Netherlands
Photo: Debot at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Brielle is a historic and fortified sea side town in the Western Netherlands, about 35 km from Rotterdam. It's a town with a long and prominent history, packed with monuments still today. It played a crucial role in the Eighty Years' War, as the Capture of Brielle by the so-called Watergeuzen (or Sea beggars, the Dutch rebels) on the 1st of April 1572 became the beginning of massive Dutch uprising against Spain. Brielle today is a charming town with one of the highest per capita counts of monuments in the country. Much of the towns fortifications have survived the test of time, and seen from the air, the typical shape of the traditional Old-Dutch fortification structure is still clearly visible.
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A robust 1704 brick gate.
This windmill is a replica of the official 19th century city mill. As common at the time, the mill is situated on the walls for the purpose of enjoying the free-flowing wind.
This massive church would have been the largest in Holland of that time, but the structure was never completed. Building started in 1417 but the last bricks were added in 1482, when only the main nave and a 57-m tower was completed. A stained glass window depicts the wedding of William of Orange and his third wife, which took place here in 1575, after the church was looted and turned into a Protestant church during the Dutch Reformation. It's possible to climb the stairs of the tower, for a nice view over town.
The town's weapon depot was built in 1708 and served as a military structure until 1922. Today, it's the impressive home of Brielle's library.
This small but comprehensive museum gives an insight in the town's history, particularly of its role in the Eighty Years' War. It is housed in the 18th-century City Hall, for which the façade was created by Johannes van Westenhout in 1790.
An all time favourite in town, this old-fashioned diner serves simple but tasty dishes for a friendly price. The food is traditional, like stews, spare-ribs or clams, but it's all fresh and there are a few good vegetarian options too.
This is no pizzeria, but a good Italian restaurant with a fine collection of wines. It serves a range of pastas, fish and meat dishes, mostly in traditional Italian fashion.
Go here if you're craving Greek food, or if you're on a limited budget.
This small place has a nice view over the harbour and serves breakfast, lunch, high tea and simple dinners. It's also a good place for some Italian ice-cream.
This has been a café for over 120 years, but it's still one of the most lively places. Nice terrace overlooking the harbour, makes a good place for a beer on a summer evening.
This simple and a bit old-fashioned hotel is part of a mini chain of three hotels in different parts of the country. Facilities are fairly basic and the rooms on the small side, but otherwise pleasant. The place has a 3-star rating and is in the centre of town. This place offers some good last-minute discounts now and then, which make it more interesting.
This shop sells antiques and bric-à-brac. It's surely one of the most charming little stores, if you're interested in their kind of ware. Opening hours are not set in stone, and usually it's only open in the afternoons. In off-season the hours are more limited. Your best bet is to just walk by and see, or check the website.
Unless you come from the province of Zeeland or the Zuid-Hollandse Eilanden, Brielle is reached via the A15, take exit number 12 to N57/Brielle and follow the signposted route via N57 and N218.
Read in the guideA major part of the town's historic heritage is situated within the old defensive walls, so navigating your way on foot is easy.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Rotterdam · International · RTM
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