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.
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Topography
Dutch Topographic map of Oss (municipality), June 2015
City center of Oss
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
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.
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
Berghem is a small town east of Oss (population: 6,900). Berghem is currently being expanded with many new houses in the Piekenhoef.
Megen
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
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
Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein
Notable residents
The arts
John Slotanus (died 1560) a Dutch Roman Catholic polemical writer, born in Geffen.
Walter Pompe (1703 in Lith – 1777) a Flemish master-sculptor of religious works in wood
Maria Versfelt (1776–1845) a Dutch writer and stage actress, known for her adventurous life
Joop Falke (1933-2016) a Dutch artist, goldsmith and sculptor
Pieter Nooten (born 1961), musician and composer best known for his work with Clan of Xymox
Joep van Lieshout (born 1963 in Ravenstein) a Dutch artist and sculptor
C. C. Catch (born 1964), pop singer
Michel van der Aa (born 1970) a Dutch composer of contemporary classical music
Frank Boeijen (born 1973) songwriter and keyboardist with Dutch metal band The Gathering
Niels Duffhuës (born 1973) a Dutch multi-instrumentalist, composer and writer
Chris Berens (born 1976) a Dutch painter, in the realms of surrealism and visionary art
Marjolein Kooijman (born 1980) former bass player with Dutch metal band The Gathering
Public thinking & public service
Antoon Jurgens (1805-1880), Dutch merchant and industrialist; he founded a butter company
Samuel van den Bergh (1864-1941), European margarine and soap manufacturer
Saal van Zwanenberg (1889-1974), founder of pharmaceutical company Organon & Co.
Jacques de Kadt (1897-1988), political thinker, politician and writer
Jan Marijnissen (born 1952), Dutch politician, belongs to the Socialist Party
Lambert van Nistelrooij (born 1953), Dutch politician and MEP, 2004 to 2019
Sport
Cor Euser (born 1957) a Dutch racing driver
Marc van Hintum (born 1967) a Dutch former footballer with over 400 club caps
John van den Berk (born 1967) a Dutch former two-time motocross world champion
Marc Lammers (born 1969), field hockey player and coach
brothers Bas (born 1971) and Mike van de Goor (born 1973) volleyball players, team gold medallists at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Bart Griemink (born 1972) a Dutch former professional football goalkeeper
Ruud van Nistelrooy (born 1976) a Dutch retired footballer with 449 club caps and 70 caps with the Netherlands national football team
Albert Kraus (born 1980) a Dutch welterweight kickboxer, K-1 World MAX Champion, 2002
Bas Verwijlen (born 1983) a fencer, competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Loek van Mil (1984-2019) a Dutch professional baseball pitcher
Rens van Eijden (born 1988) a Dutch footballer with over 250 club caps
Gino Vos (born 1990) a Dutch professional darts player
Rick van der Ven (born 1991) a Dutch archer, competed in Archery at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Richard van der Venne (born 1992) a Dutch professional footballer