Amgen has a logicstics center in Breda, with the bulk of European IS operations there as well. Breda is a small city near the Belgian border (close enough to bike there).
The city government is intent on making Breda a vibrant place - in the nearly 6 months I've been here, there have been dozens of festivals, street parties, concerts in the park, etc. Just prior to my departure, the Breda Marathon was run, and this is the view from my apartment balcony. The route is peppered with local brass bands near sidewalk cafes, attracting spectators to sit, listen to the music, watch the runners, and enjoy a drink.
The city itself has many charms, including a large central square with a cathedral built in the 14th century. The religious neutrality of this cathedral is carefully, if subliminally, maintained. It was evidently the site of an extraordinary amount of artwork, statues, etc., but virtually all were destroyed in the iconoclasm that followed the start of the Reformation. Only the statues of the historical founders of Breda remain. 
My apartment is in the Chassé Park neighborhood, very near the city center. It's within easy walking distance of the railway station, shops, museums, and dozens if not hundreds of restaurants.
Just across the park is a huge casino / performing arts complex. The Nord Brabant Orchestra plays there; for a regional group, it's extremely good. In addition, the smaller venues double as movie thaters, showing a wide selection of classic and off-beat films.
The social life of Breda revolves around late evening dinners at the many cafes, restaurants, and bars in the town. Here's one such dinner with colleagues from work.
Friday and Saturday mornings, especially from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., have been festive times in Breda for centuries, as this painting in the Breda Museum attests. Noisy partygoers return from dinner late at night, with the normal Dutch inhibitions removed by darkness and vast quantities of beer. I've learned to close my windows after midnight - I'm just not too festive then.
Breda is surrounded by farmland and forests, the latter cultivated over the centuries to support the shipbuilding industry that forms the background of Breda's economy. The Mastbos (literally, "ship mast forest") is a pleasant and popular place for hikes and bike rides in the evening and on weekends. Scattered throughout the area are historical gems, including a Spanish fortification (from the times of the Counter Reformation), and this castle, owned by the local Duke.
The assignment has provided me with ample opportunities to travel around Europe. These trips have included numerous return visits to Milan and Lucerne, plus first visits to Frankfurt and its surroundings, Lyon and Biarritz France, Leeds UK with business colleagues. My kids and I have taken side trips to the Moselle Valley in Germany, to Trier, and many other cities and towns in the Netherlands. Take a look at the other travel pages here for more detailed descriptions.
Last Updated Saturday, June 16, 2007