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Oss
Oss
	— Municipality —
; Flag	; Coat of arms
	Coordinates: 51°46′N 5°53′E / 51.767°N 5.883°E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Noord Brabant
	Area (2006)
- Total	104.42 km2 (40.3 sq mi)
- Land	101.98 km2 (39.4 sq mi)
- Water	2.44 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
	Population (1 January, 2007)
- Total	76,626
- Density	751/km2 (1,945.1/sq mi)
	Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

For the Icelandic Óss rune, see Aesir. See also OSS.

Oss ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of Noord Brabant.

[edit] Population centres

Name	Population
Berghem	6900
Haren	785
Macharen	722
Megen	1686
Oss	N/A
Ravenstein	3724

[edit] Transportation

Railway stations: Oss, Oss West, Ravenstein

[edit] The city of Oss

Oss was first mentioned in a letter by Pope Alexander II on 6 May 1069. Oss was granted city rights in 1399 by Hertogin Johanna van Brabant. Present-day Oss has several chemical and pharmaceutical industries like Diosynth and Schering-Plough (previously Organon). Oss is also host to the professional football team TOP Oss, and is the birthplace of Real Madrid star Ruud van Nistelrooy, although he did not play for TOP, but for rivals FC Den Bosch.

The internationally renowned gothic metal/alternative rock band The Gathering, formed in 1989, originally hails from Oss, as well as the painter Chris Berens.

Today there is only one coffeeshop left, called "The Jungle".

[edit] Berghem

Main article: Berghem

Berghem is a small town east of Oss (population: 6,900). Berghem is currently being expanded with many new houses in the Piekenhoef.

[edit] Megen

Main article: Megen

Megen is a small city (population: 1,686) close to the river Maas.

Megen used to be the 'capital' of the county Megen (including Haren, Macharen and Teeffelen) that was founded around 1145. City rights were obtained in 1357. In 1810, the County Megen became a municipality to which Haren and Macharen also belonged. It became part of the municipality of Oss in 1994.

Currently, there are two monasteries in Megen. One is inhabited by the Clarissas (also called the Poor Clares), followers of St. Clare of Assisi. The other is occupied by the Franciscans, followers of St. Francis of Assisi. Of the two castles Megen used to have, only one tower remains.

[edit] Ravenstein

Main article: Ravenstein, Netherlands

Ravenstein (population: 3,728) is a city and was a municipality until 2003, when it was added to the Oss municipality. The municipality covered an area of 42.68 km² and also included villages: Demen, Dennenburg, Deursen, Dieden, Herpen, Huisseling, Keent, Koolwijk, Neerlangel, Neerloon, Overlangel.

Ravenstein received city rights in 1380.

[edit] Born in Oss

Jacques de Kadt (1897), Dutch political thinker, politician (PvdA) and writer
Arno den Hartog (1954), Dutch field hockey international
John van den Berk (1967), Dutch motocross world champion
Marc Lammers (1969), Dutch field hockey player and coach
Jan Marijnissen (1952) Dutch politician, belonging to the Socialist Party
Michel van der Aa (1970), Dutch composer
Chris Berens (1976), Dutch painter
Caroline Catharina Müller (1964), Singer known as C.C. Catch
Frank Boeijen (1973) Dutch songwriter and keyboardist with internationally renowned Dutch metal band The Gathering
Marjolein Kooijman (1980) Dutch, bass player with Dutch metal band The Gathering since 2004
Ruud van Nistelrooy (1976), Real Madrid and Netherlands professional football player
Loek van Mil (1984), professional baseball player, playing for the Minnesota Twins and the Dutch National Baseball team