Editing Sint-Oedenrode (section)

==Urban development==
Sint-Oedenrode is traditionally a large town. Towns like this, which had already before 1850 more than just local significance, are referred to as "vlek" (market town) or "[[heerlijkheid|vrijheerlijkheid]]". 
These kind of towns often show a mix of historical origin and growth factors. Usually these settlements date back to the Middle Ages and were the primary parishes with a market function, attested by the presence of a square. In St. Oedenrode this is clearly recognizable in the current market square. The oldest buildings of St. Oedenrode were concentrated around "[['t Sant]]", and the centre moved later to the current market square, where the function as a transit town led to a widening of the main road and the town's development into a linear settlement. Fairs were held at the market square, especially for livestock and dairy products.

Early 19th century the [[sacristan]] Brock describes his birthplace Sint-Oedenrode as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heemkundekringschijndel.nl/Heemkunde/Brabant%20Collectie/De%20Meiery/De%20Meiery.htm|title=De Meiery}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heemkundekringschijndel.nl/Heemkunde/Brabant%20Collectie/De%20Meiery/St%20Oedenrode/144-St%20Oedenrode.htm|title=144 - St Oedenrode}}</ref>

''Dit laatsten, van ouds zoo vermaard Vlek, is thans weinig meer dan een middelmatig dorp der Meierij, bestaande uit weinig meer dan 150 afzonderlyke huizen, die een enkele straat formeert, verdeeld in den Heuvel, de Markt, het Moleneind, welke digt betimmert zyn, en den Dyk, zynde dat gedeelte naar de zyde van Eerschot tot aan de Dommel, waar de huizen meer verspreid liggen, niet aanzienlyk zyn, als in het overige gedeelte. Aan de Markt, waar het Raadhuis midden op ligt, en waar men van vooren één schoonen lindenboom, en agter eenen grooten ronden poel aantreft, zijn er de huizen op stadswijze gebouwd, en leverd een fraaij gezigt op.''

"This last, traditionally so renowned "Vlek", is now little more than a mediocre village of the [[Meierij]], consisting of little more than 150 separate houses, which forms a single street, divided into "de Heuvel", the Market, the "Moleneind" which are densely housed, and "de Dijk", being the part of [[Eerschot]] till the [[Dommel]], where the houses are more scattered and are not considerable, as in the other part of town. At the Market, where the [[town hall]] is situated in the middle, and where one can find one beautiful [[linden tree]] in the front, and a large round pool in the back, there are houses build in the urban way, which looks very fine"

The description indicates that despite the minimal growth in the past few centuries, Sint-Oedenrode has retained its as it were urban allure in its old centers. For the most part the town kept a very rural character, in which an alternating ribbon of workers houses, farmhouses and manors defined the towns image. This street in the old town has been quite well maintained to this date.

The center of Sint-Oedenrode been developed in recent years into a pleasant residential area. 
In total, the shopping area is almost 25.000m2. More than 40 percent of these shops ar in the center of Sint-Oedenrode. Sint-Oedenrode is mainly a shopping center for people from the own community who shop for groceries.
A relatively large proportion of the sales volume ( 64% ) consists of [[retail]] and [[horeca]] expenditure by the inhabitants of the municipality itself. 
The town is only to a limited extent able to attract customers from other parts of the country. Within the region, in particular the relationship with [[Son en Breugel]] appears to be strong. 
The inhabitants of [[Veghel]] and [[Boxtel]] are an important group of customers for the retail and horeca in Sint-Oedenrode as well. The inhabitants of Sint-Oedenrode go to regional shopping centers in [[Schijndel]], [[Veghel]] themselves as well. 
However, especially [[Eindhoven]] has a strong attraction to Sint-Oedenrode and the entire region : 17% of spending outside the village by residents from Stint-Oedenrode is done in Eindhoven.