The Garnet Tower and the Pigeon Tower The water gate in the southwestern fortress wall of the castle complex between the Granaattoren and the Duiventoren is incorrectly called the Spanjaardsgat. The name refers to the trick with the Peat Ship of Breda in 1590, when the troops of Prince Maurits, hidden in the hold of a peat ship, managed to recapture the Breda garrison from the Spanish. However, the passage between the two towers was only realized from 1610 onwards and drawings and engravings show that the peat barge entered the moat on the northern side. The towers, built in Italian style, are the remains of the extensions of the fortifications that Count Henry III of Nassau realized around 1530, before he had the castle converted into a palace. Both towers were designed as gun emplacements and originally had a central open connection between the two floors to vent gunpowder fumes through a hole in the roof. The towers have long since lost their military function. During restoration work (1903 – 1910), the current bulbs (onions) were placed on the roofs, and there is no longer an open connection between the two floors. The vaults of the lower structure are reinforced by ribs of sand-lime brick from the same Belgian quarry that was also used for the Grote Kerk. The southern tower, the Pigeon Tower, has a Protestant chapel on the ground floor and a visitor center on the top with a large model of the contemporary castle complex. In the Garnet Tower, the northern tower, there is a Roman Catholic chapel on the bottom floor, the top floor houses a catering facility for the cadets and KMA staff, a somewhat special combination. In the prayer rooms, the cadets receive their spiritual care lessons and occasionally weddings of cadets or members of the KMA permanent staff are blessed or baptisms take place. It is interesting that during the period when Indonesian cadets were trained at the KMA (1951 - 1957), there was also room for Islamic prayer exercises in the prayer rooms. Nowadays, the Spanjaardsgat, with its two heptagonal towers, forms a natural backdrop for the Spanjaardsgat Festival, a three-week music and dance event in the spring on a large pontoon in the canal. The traditional arrival of Saint Nicholas in Breda also takes place here. Also nice for city trippers.

Spanish Gate in Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands. The castle complex is surrounded by the Maark River, canals, and belongs to the Royal Military Academy. The two towers on the sides, Granatovaya and Golubinaya, were designed as defensive, gunpowder towers, and were connected by a gallery. During the Eighty Years' War, the city of Breda was occupied by Spanish troops. On the territory of the castle there were 500 armed Spaniards and 100 mounted Italians and Sicilians who served Spain. Moritz of Orange organized an operation in which there were a minimum of casualties. The Dutch launched a “Trojan horse”, that is, through this water gate they launched a barge with soldiers sprinkled with coal and peat. So Breda was freed from the Spaniards.

You really need to know this or come across it by chance. Interesting building, too bad we couldn't look inside. It is beautifully located at the end of the harbor of Breda. A nice location in summer with a number of pleasant terraces. Very few boats at the moment.

One of the more exceptional sites of the old center of Breda with a lot of historic stories.

The Spanjaardsgat consists of 2 defensive towers, constructed by Count Hendrik III. The left tower is called "grenade tower". Because carrier pigeons were kept in the right tower for Willem van Orange, it was also named "dovecote". The towers now serve as chapels and the pigeon tower also houses the information center of the Dutch Defense Academy. Many people think that the trick with the peat ship took place here in 1590, but that happened a little further, at the current sports grounds of the KMA. "The List With The Peat Ship": It is one of the most famous incidents from the 80 Years' War. Peat skipper Adriaan van Bergen then retook the castle from the Spaniards by smuggling 75 soldiers of Prince Maurits within the castle walls in his peat ship. At night the soldiers left the ship and then took the castle. The Spanish sentries were overpowered and the Prince's army was allowed in through the outer gate. The ruse is also sometimes used "the Dutch Trojan horse" or called "the surprise of Breda".

Nice landmark in the center of Breda

Mooi onderhouden burcht en kasteel, alsook oude leger kadettenschool. Bezoekje meer dan waard.

Een heel mooi plekje in breda

Amazing views

James Bond Big Band

The Spanjaardsgat remains an iconic moment in Breda. In connection with the Vuelta, artist Maurice Spapens was able to hang 3 red shirts with the help of the WildKnittingRoom. The Spanjaardsgat could hardly be more Spanish.

Nice place, nice terraces, just lovely mates