a town of Holland, in the province of North Brabant, and capital of a circle of the same name, is situated in a marshy plain on the Mark, 24 miles S.W. of Bois le Duc, and 30 N.N.E. of Antwerp. It is strongly fortified, and defended by a citadel (rebuilt by William III. of England), and the surrounding district may be laid under water when required. The town is well built, with wide and well paved streets, is intersected by several canals, and has a fine quay, town hall, arsenal, observatory, orphan asylum, and several Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, one of the latter having a spire 362 feet in height. It has also a Latin school, military academy, and manufactures of linen and woollen goods, hats, beer, and musical instruments. Pop. (1850) 14,689.

Breda was taken by prince Maurice in 1590, retaken by the Spaniards under Spinola in 1625, and finally ceded to Holland by the treaty of Westphalia in 1648.