What you always wanted to know about Uden!

Introduction

Uden has always been a welcoming and tolerant community. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Uden, as part of ‘het Land van Ravenstein’, was already characterized by a high degree of religious freedom. When two religious orders, the Kruisheren and Zusters Birgitinessen where driven out of ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Coudewater, they took refuge in Uden.

 

History repeated itself when Uden gave shelter to several thousand Belgian war refugees during the First World War (1914-1918). Today, the name of a business park in Uden, ‘Vluchtoord’, which means sanctuary, is a reminder of that period.

Uden opened its doors wide again in the nineteen-fifties,
when the town, which was still largely a farming
community, was designated an economic development area. This time, the town took in businesses and workers from all over the country. Then as now, the local community adapted effortlessly to the growth of Vliegbasis Volkel, the local Air Force base, and to the constant need for extra staff and accommodation.

 

All these newcomers have contributed to life in Uden and make Uden what it is today. A municipality where more than 40.534 people and 98 different nationalities get up every day to go to school, or to work, go shopping, see a movie, go out for a meal, visit a sports club… in short, live together as a community in a dynamic municipality. 

 

This is Uden, a municipality we are very proud of an honored to present to you.

 

Number of inhabitants

 

Volkel	3.536
Odiliapeel	2.033
Uden	35.097
Total	40.666

 

Housing

 

18.035 houses and apartments are located within Uden’s municipal boundaries.

 

Multicultural community

 

98 different nationalities have chosen to make Uden their home.

 

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Convivial town centre

 

Restaurants and bars

 

Going out in Uden is always varied. You can relax while

enjoying a snack and have a drink in one of the many

cafés on the market square and at other locations in the town centre. Take a break after a day’s shopping or a hard day at work, or just enjoy the company of friends. And those who prefer to dance the night away can do so at the weekend. Enjoying an excellent meal in one of Uden’s many restaurants is another popular activity. There is a wide choice of good restaurants that offer delicious food in tasteful surroundings. Traditional Dutch cuisine for example, or more exotic, such as Greek, Thai, Japanese or Mexican dishes. The choice is yours.

 

Dynamic Uden

 

When you visit Uden, or live in Uden, there are always

things to see and do. The town has a busy calendar of

events, which are always well attended and enjoyed to

the full. For example, the popular public shopping Sundays, the festive Oranjemarkt on Koninginnedag (in celebration of the Queen’s birthday) and Uden on Ice, a winter skating event when Uden’s market square is transformed into a giant ice skating rink. And what about the Schapendag in Odiliapeel, Carnival, Uden’s huge summer fair and Volkel in de Wolken, a well-known national air show at the base in Volkel? There’s always something festive going on somewhere in Uden!

 

There is always something on in Uden’s busy town centre:

• 125.000 people visit the shopping centre every week,

  mainly on Saturdays.

• 325 shops
• 25 cafés
• 25 restaurants
• Market day on Monday and on Friday (only vegetables and fruit).

 

Annual events

 

For more festivities, click here below to see the other annual events in Uden.

Website Evenementen/Evenementenkalender 2010

 

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Uden is an attractive municipality with abundant flowering plants, trees and parks. Moreover, Uden is located in rural surroundings. Nature is always close by when you live in Uden. The town planners have created extensive parks, installed fountains and water features and planted many trees and shrubs. Making Uden a great place to live with fantastic recreational facilities. People feel happier when they are close to nature!

 

Nature reserves

 

Attractive nature reserves like De Maashorst, Slabroek

and the Bedafse Bergen are just 20 minutes away from Uden’s town centre. De Maashorst to the north of Uden is the largest nature reserve in Brabant (4.000 hectares).

In addition to roaming herds of highland dairy cows and horses, the reserve offers a huge variety of flora and fauna. The Bedafse Bergen are characterised by sand dunes, sandy plains and oaken ramparts. The old cart track that used to be the shortest route between Uden and Den Bosch can still be seen today on an unspoiled stretch of moorland.

 

Cycling and walking

 

 

There are several cycle paths and walking routes in

Uden. The network of cycle and walking paths offers great scenic routes to enjoy nature. These routes are situated in the populated areas and outlying districts in Uden. The walking rout network consists of routes between five and ten kilometers .

 

Landscape policy

 

Uden has committed itself to a policy of bringing nature and nature lovers closer together in an ecologically responsible way. This has led to the creation of ecological green belts that form a continuous ‘Groene
Ruit’ or Green Diamond around Uden and prevent
fragmentation of the countryside surrounding the town.
So visitors and those who live in Uden are able to enjoy
the beauty of nature in a totally natural environment.

 

‘De Breuk’

 

Uden is surrounded by a magnificent and extensive countryside that also features an natural rift. We call this rift ‘de breuk van Uden’. A phenomenon where two geological layers meet and slide over each other. This is a very unusual and prominent natural landmark. Something nature-lovers gladly make a detour to see.

 

Strikingly green

 

Nature has always had a prominent presence in Uden and that is still true today. The districts and the town centre are strikingly green. Trees and plants are omnipresent, even in the most built-up areas, creating for pleasing views just around practically every street corner. This policy makes a major contribution to the residents’ quality of life.

 

Uden is surrounded by:

 

• 500 hectares of woodland.
• 21 hectares of moorland / fields.
• 6 hectares of sand dunes / sandy plains.
  

 

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Uden is full of excellent facilities, making the town a great place to live. In addition to its popular town centre with its many shops, bars and restaurants, Uden boasts a theatre (Markant), a cinema (Take Ten) and a religious arts museum (Museum voor Religieuze Kunst). Amongst other treasures, this museum houses a prominent collection of mediaeval statues, icons and contemporary religious arts.

 

Sporting facilities

 

Those who are interested in sports have a huge choice in Uden. The town offers a modern indoor swimming pool, several sports complexes, a large artificial ski slope and a magnificent sports park with one of the best athletics stadiums in the country. Udi, the local football club, is one of the largest of its kind in the Netherlands and offers all the facilities that you would expect of a club of this stature.

 

The other sports clubs are also modern and well equipped, allowing club members to practice their chosen sport in all its facets.

 

New hospital in Uden

 

Situated as it is in the centre of the Oss-Veghel-Uden triangle and directly adjacent to the A-50 motorway, Uden is the logical location for a new regional hospital. Thanks to excellent accessibility, this hospital will offer patients and visitors outstanding service. Uden is also particularly proud to have been chosen to fulfill this important central role for patients from all over the region. Construction is expected to start in the second half of 2010.

 

A brief summary of Uden’s facilities

 

Health

• Future regional hospital in Uden-Noord

 

Art

• Museum voor Religieuze Kunst (a museum for religious art)
• Centrum Kunstzinnige Vorming Uden (a centre for artistic styling)

 

Culture

• Theater Markant (theatre)
• Theaterspoor (theatre)
• Naat Piek (open air theatre)
• De Pul (youth centre for films and concerts)
  

 

Recreation

• Delfino swimming baths
• Take Ten cinema
• Hemelrijk leisure park
• Traxx go-kart and party centre

  

 

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Uden looks after its young people. So the town has created good educational and leisure facilities and places where young people can meet. In addition to normal further education, young people from Uden and smaller towns in the area are also offered a variety of alternative secondary education courses. But there is more to life than just studying. Young people want to meet boys and girls of their own age when they go out, play sports or during other leisure activities. Uden offers a wide range of facilities

and activities where young people can develop

their talents and social skills.

 

Pure enjoyment

 

De Pul has been popular with young people locally and concert visitors from all over the country for many years. De Pul is a cultural podium that focuses on the needs of young people. With youth activities, the film house and much more. All thanks to the input of a small army of young and enthusiastic volunteers.

The Multicenter is a youth centre for everybody from the age of ten. You can also go there for all kinds of fun sports like skating, break dancing, boxing and table tennis. And always under expert supervision.

Indoors and outdoors

 

Young people who enjoy sports can also have a great time in Uden. Uden offers many splendid facilities for indoor and outdoor sports. There are a staggering 120 sports clubs in Uden. And special sports like rugby, fencing, twirling and hang-gliding are catered for as well. There is even a mini racing team. All in all, Uden is home to an astounding number of sports and leisure associations.

 

Schools in Uden

 

Primary schools

• Five state primary schools

• One Protestant Christian school

• Ten Catholic schools
• One Islamic school
• One school for denominational education
• One special-needs school
• 5 community schools (grouping of organizations in the area of education, childcare, sports, healthcare, well being and culture)

 

Secondary schools

• Udens College VMBO (advanced intermediate vocational education)
• Udens College HAVO (higher general secondary education)
• Udens College Athenaeum (similar to secondary modern school education)
• Udens College Gymnasium (similar to grammar school education)

 

Vocational education and training facilities

• Regional Education Centre Work plaza
  

 

 

As you would expect, Uden, Volkel and Odiliapeel are planning for the future. Businesses that operate both nationally and internationally are welcomed with open arms. An attractive corporate climate and the ambitious attitude of the people ho live in the community have made Uden a prosperous municipality with some intriguing big city traits.

 

Housing opportunities

 

Uden’s skyline continues to grow higher and becomes more attractive and extensive every year. Many new homes are under construction in many parts of the municipality. Large homes, smaller homes, stylish homes.
So that the people of Uden can enjoy their lives in

attractive surroundings.

 

Driven and dynamic

 

A warm welcome for (new) businesses. Innovation in the area of culture and entertainment. New facilities for athletes. Uden is characterized as a driven and dynamic municipality. New ideas are openly welcomed, because progress means trying out new things. You have to take aim and pull the trigger before you can hit your target.

 

Future new industrial estate

 

In addition to the existing Loopkant, Liessent and Vluchtoord industrial estates, new industrial facilities are currently being developed in the Goorkens and Hoogveld areas. These new estates will also be destined for knowledge-bases, innovative businesses that provide high-value services and/or products. 

 

Uden goes the extra mile!

 

Schemes like Uden Promotie and Dutch Food Experience guarantee the future success of new initiatives in Uden and the region. Uden is also working on a new and innovative concept called’ de startersmarktplaats’, a virtual market place that is designed to support new businesses in the initial phases.

 

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On a final note

 

We hope that you have formed a picture of what it is like to live and work in the municipality of Uden. An energetic place where the focus lies on conviviality and dynamic ideas. An authentic small town, typical Noord Brabant, but with a big city feel, rich in sports, leisure and business associations, with a committed and involved population and located in beautiful natural surroundings. But also a town with boundless opportunities for businesses and abundant sports and cultural facilities and events. Do you want to see how we do things in Uden? Pay us a visit!

You are more than welcome! 

 

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