tle, originally built by John of Polanen in
1350. From this period until late in the 19th century it remained the
most important of the line of fortresses along the Meuse. Breda was
captured by surprise by the Spaniards in 1581; but in 1590 it fell again
into the hands of Maurice of Nassau, 68 picked men contriving to get
into the town concealed under the turf in a peat-boat. The so-called
"Spaniard's Hole" still marks the spot where the peat-boat lay. Its
surrender in 1625, after a ten months' siege, to the Spaniards under
Spinola is the subject of the famous picture by Velasquez in the Museo
del Prado in Madrid. In 1637 Breda was recaptured by Frederick Henry of
Orange after a four months' siege, and in 1648 it was finally ceded to
Holland by the treaty of Westphalia. During the wars of the French
Revolution, it was taken by Dumouriez in 1793, evacuated soon after and
retaken by Pichegru in 1795, after the whole of Holland had already
succumbed to the French. In 1813, a sally being made by the French
garrison on an advance-guard of the Russians under Benckendorff, the
citizens of Breda again made themselves masters of the town.

Breda was the residence, during his exile, of Charles II., who, by the
declaration of Breda (1660), made known the conditions of his acceptance
of the crown of England. In 1696 William, prince of Orange and king of
England, built the new castle, one of the finest buildings of the
period, which now serves as the military academy. Breda also derives
some celebrity from the various political congresses of which it has
been the scene. In 1575 a conference was held here between the
ambassadors of Spain and those of the United Provinces; in 1667 a peace
was signed between England, Holland, France and Denmark; and in
1746-1747 the representatives of the same powers met in the town to
discuss the terms of another treaty.

BREDAEL, JAN FRANS VAN (1683-1750), Flemish painter, son of Alexander
van Bredael (d. 1720), who was also an artist, was born in Antwerp. He
imitated the style of Wouverman and Breughel with such dexterity that
even connoisseurs are often unable to distinguish his copies of their
pictures from the originals. He visited England, where he was so well
employed that in a few years he was able to retire to his native country
with a competency. The earl of Derwentwater was one of his chief
patrons. There were several other van Bredaels, who won honour as
artists--notably PIETER (162