Best, Netherlands

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Best


mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = North Brabant
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 35.12
area_land_km2 = 34.28
area_water_km2 = 0.83
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 29000
population_density_km2 = 846
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2

Best (pronunciation|178 Best.ogg) is a municipality and a village in the southern Netherlands. It's situated northwest of the city Eindhoven, and Best is also part of the agglomeration of this city. The village was part of a neighbourhood town, called Oirschot but, as Best was situated on the state road from Amsterdam to Maastricht, this often gave extra difficulties. Each time a troop of soldiers wanted to stay for a while in Best, they had to request this 10 km away, in Oirschot to be allowed. This made The Hague decide to separate Best in 1819.

Back in the Roman time, people had lived in Best, based on archaeological excavations around the village. The first written text about Best dates back to about 775 AC, which reads: "uijt eene edele stamme onder de Franken werd Sint Odulphus, patroonheilige van Best, geboren." This means: from a noble tribe under the Francs Saint Odulphus, patron of Best, was born. The tale goes his birth place is at the same place on which now the Saint Odulphus church is built.

Two centuries ago, Best itself didn't yet exist. There were three small villages: Naastenbest, in the west, Wilhelminadorp, in the south and Verrenbest, at where now the Oranjestraat is. They grew together, and formed the village with the name Best.

In 1866, Best got a train station on the line Rotterdam - Breda - Boxtel - Helmond - Venlo - Maastricht. First the line had one track, but soon there was too much traffic and the line became double tracked. But in the 1980s this again wasn't enough anymore so since 2002 the station has had four tracks. Also is it today possible to travel to Best from Utrecht or Eindhoven by train.

The head quarters of Philips Medical Systems is located in Best.

One can take a bus (line numbers 141/142/144) from the Eindhoven central station to Best.

Events

* Lake Dance - at Aqua Best 18 Augustus 2007
* Extrema outdoor - at Aqua Best 21 July 2007

Politics

As of March 7th 2006:

* CDA - 5 seats
* PvdA - 5 seats
* Best Open - 4 seats
* VVD - 3 seats
* Jongerenpartij JO - 2 seats
* political party PBB|PBB - 1 seat
* D66 - 1 seat

Population centres

* Aarle
* Best
* De Vleut

External links

* [http://www.gemeentebest.nl Official Website]
* [http://www.best-online.nl Best-Online]