Bergen-op-Zoom

Bergen-op-Zoom, a town formerly strongly fortified, in the Dutch province of North Brabant, 21 miles N. by W. of Antwerp, and 39 E. by N. of Flushing. It stands on the little river Zoom, at its entrance into the east branch of the Scheldt, in a marshy district, frequently inundated. It has a harbour, manufactures of brick and earthenwares, and a large trade in anchovies. Population, 11,108. The importance of its position rendered the town the object of many contests. The Netherlands made it one of their strongholds in their struggles with Spain, and the Spaniards, who had been expelled in 1577, unsuccessfully attempted to capture the place, either by siege or storm, in 1581, 1588, 1605, and 1622. The fortifications were afterwards strengthened by the engineer Coehorn, so as to give it the reputation of being impregnable. Yet the French, under Count Löwendal, in 1747, after a siege of nearly three months, and the springing of 41 mines by the assailants, and 38 by the defenders, took the place by storm, and in 1795 it capitulated without resistance to Pichegru. Being incorporated with France in 1810, it was blockaded in 1814 by the English, who attempted to surprise the fortress on the night of the 8th of March with a force of 3900; but after carrying the greater part of the works, they were, through Sir Thomas Graham's remissness in sending support, overpowered by the brave garrison, and either slain or forced to surrender. The French only gave up the post under the Treaty of Paris; in 1867 the fortress was demolished.