Babyloniënbroek is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is in the municipality of Altena, about 7 km northwest of the city of Waalwijk.

Babyloniënbroek
Village
Church in Babyloniënbroek
Church in Babyloniënbroek
Babyloniënbroek is located in North Brabant
Babyloniënbroek
Babyloniënbroek
Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
Babyloniënbroek is located in Netherlands
Babyloniënbroek
Babyloniënbroek
Babyloniënbroek (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 51°44′35″N 5°1′18″E / 51.74306°N 5.02167°E / 51.74306; 5.02167
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
MunicipalityAltena
Area
 • Total
8.70 km2 (3.36 sq mi)
Elevation−0.1 m (−0.3 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
425
 • Density49/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
4269[1]
Dialing code0416

Babyloniënbroek consists of a single street, and has about 400 inhabitants. The name Babylon has the suffix Broek added. 'Broek' is a word linked to the root of the English word, 'Brook' for stream or the springs of a stream, and the meaning in Dutch is very similar, meaning swamp or swampy. The village was first mentioned in 1131 as Babilonia.[3] Babyloniënbroek is a linear settlement which started as a cultivation project by the monastery of Sint-Truiden around 1130 alongside a canal which no longer exists.[4][3]

The Dutch Reformed church building probably dates from the 14th century. In 1664, the nave was enlarged using material of the older church. It was restored until 1975.[4] The church used to function as a place of refuge in case of floods. The last time it was used was in 1809.[5]

Babyloniënbroek was home to 250 people in 1840.[5]

Notable citizens

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 4269TK". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Babyloniënbroek - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert (1997). Babyloniënbroek (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9945 6. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Babyloniënbroek". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.