Chaam

This article is about the Dutch village. For other uses, see Cham.

Village in North Brabant, Netherlands

Chaam

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Chaam

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Chaam

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Coordinates: 51°30′16″N 4°51′41″E﻿ / ﻿51.50444°N 4.86139°E﻿ / 51.50444; 4.86139
Country| Netherlands
Province| North Brabant
Municipality| Alphen-Chaam
Area

[1]

• Total

| 29.87 km2 (11.53 sq mi)
Elevation

[2]

| 13 m (43 ft)
Population

(2021)[1]

• Total

| 4,295
• Density| 140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code|

4861[1]

Dialing code| 0161

Chaam (Dutch pronunciation: [kaːm]) is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Alphen-Chaam, about 13 km southeast of Breda.

## History

[edit]

The village was first mentioned in 1236 as "de Cambe", and probably means beer brewery.[3] Chaam is a road village which developed in the Middle Ages.[4]

The Dutch Reformed church was a gothic church from the 16th century. After the destruction on 28 October 1944 by the Germans, only a part was reconstructed. Of the richly decorated tower, only the pear-shared spire and the bell from 1392 could be saved, and a new tower could not be financed; however, it has been placed next to the church. The Catholic Saint Anthony Abt was built in 1925 and 1926. Its tower was blown up in 1944 as well. It was restored and enlarged in 1948, and has been made to resemble the tower of the Dutch Reformed church.[4][5]

Before the Belgian Revolution (1830-1831), Chaam was the geographic centre of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was home to 396 people in 1840.[5] Chaam was a separate municipality until 1997, when it was merged with Alphen.[6]

## Sport

[edit]

Chaam organises annually on the first Wednesday after the Tour de France, the Acht van Chaam, a cycling criterium for professional cyclists.[5]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Catholic church: Saint Anthony Abt

* Brewery of Chaam

* Former tower of the Dutch Reformed church (1907)

* Vineyard in Chaam

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
2. ^ "Postcodetool for 4861AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
3. ^ "Chaam (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
4. ^ a b Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert (1997). Chaam (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9945 6. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
5. ^ a b c "Chaam". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
6. ^ Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chaam.

* v
* t
* e

Populated places in the municipality of Alphen-Chaam

Villages|

* Alphen
* Bavel (partially)
* Chaam
* Galder
* Strijbeek
* Ulvenhout (partially)

Hamlets|

* Heikant
* Het Sas
* Klooster
* 't Zand

List of cities, towns and villages in North Brabant
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template