Oss

Oss
Province	North Brabant
Area - Land - Water	103.51 km² 101.10 km² 2.41 km²
Population 2004 - Density	76,337 755/km²

Oss is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant.

Population centres

Berghem, Haren, Macharen, Megen, Oss and Ravenstein.

The city Oss

Oss was first mentioned in a letter by Pope Alexander II on May 6, 1069. Oss was granted city rights in 1399. Present-day Oss has several chemical and pharmaceutical industries like Diosynth and Organon, both Akzo Nobel companies.

Oss is also host to the professional football team TOP Oss, and is the birthplace of Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Haren

Haren is a former municipality with an area of 42.68 km².

Megen

Megen is a small city (population: 1,697) close to the river the 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 belonged as well. It became part of the municipality Oss in 1994.

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

Ravenstein

Ravenstein (population: 3,728) is a city and was a municipality until 2003. 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 1480.