Editing Best, Netherlands

{{More citations needed|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Best
| settlement_type         = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = T.T Kapel Best.JPG
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = Chapel in Best
| image_flag              = Flag of Best North Brabant.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                =
| image_shield            = Best wapen.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              =
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0753 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Best in a municipal map of North Brabant
| map_caption             = Location in North Brabant
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|31|N|5|24|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[North Brabant]]
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web
 |url = http://www.gemeentebest.nl/bestuur/college/samenstelling/39/anton-van-aert.html
 |title = Anton van Aert
 |language = nl
 |publisher = Gemeente Best
 |access-date = 29 April 2014}}</ref>
| governing_body          = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party            = [[Democrats 66|D66]]
| leader_title            = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = [[Hans Ubachs]] (acting)
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = {{Dutch municipality total area|Best}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Best}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Best}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 5683EA
 |language = nl
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |access-date = 29 April 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 16
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{Dutch municipality population|Best}}
| population_as_of        = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Best}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = Bestenaar
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 5680–5685
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 0499
| website                 = {{URL|gemeentebest.nl}}
| footnotes               =
}}
[[File:Gem-Best-OpenTopo.jpg|275px|thumb|Topographic map of the municipality of Best, June 2015]]

'''Best''' ({{IPA|nl|bɛst|-|178 Best.ogg}}) is a [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] and a village in the province of [[North Brabant]], southern [[Netherlands]]. It is situated northwest of the city [[Eindhoven]], and is part of Brabant's [[Brabantse Stedenrij|city region]].

The headquarters of one of Europe's largest [[meat processing|meat processors]], [[Vion NV]], are located in Best, as are [[Philips]] Healthcare and the [[Bata Corporation]]'s "Bata Protective" operations (B2B).

==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=August 2023}}

The village used to be a part of [[Oirschot]], a nearby town. But as Best was situated on the state road from [[Amsterdam]] to [[Maastricht]], this often created difficulties. Each time the military wanted to quarter troops in Best, they had to request to be stationed in Oirschot, 10&nbsp;km away, for this to be allowed. Because of this difficulty, the government decided to separate Best from Oirschot in 1819.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Archaeological excavations around the village suggest settlement in the area dating back to the Roman era. The [[Armenhoef]] is a monumental farm on the Oirschotseweg 117 in Best.
This stable is the oldest still in use within Western Europe. Historical building research in 2009 showed that the wooden frame of the stable dates back to 1263. The residential part of the farm is more recent, and was built in 1640 at the earliest, but probably around 1680. The farm is an official monument.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gemeentebest.nl/sport-cultuur-en-recreatie/monumenten/68/de-armenhoef-oirschotseweg-117.html|title = Monumenten – Gemeente Best}}</ref>
The first written text about Best dates back to 1421.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meertens.knaw.nl/bedevaart/bol/plaats/86 |title=Databank bedevaart en bedevaartplaatsen in Nederland |publisher=Meertens.knaw.nl |access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref>

The village itself, however, did not exist until the 19th century. There were three small villages: Naastenbest in the west, Wilhelminadorp in the south and Verrenbest where Oranjestraat is located. They grew together, and formed the village with the name Best.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Best received a [[Best railway station|railway station]] on the line Rotterdam – Breda – Boxtel – Helmond – Venlo – Maastricht. The line had only one track, but traffic congestion necessitated another track, so it was made double-tracked. In the 1980s, congestion once again became a problem so two more tracks were added in 2002. It is now possible to travel to Best from Utrecht or Eindhoven by train.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

The spoken language is North Meierijs (an [[East Brabantian]] dialect, which is very similar to colloquial [[Dutch language|Dutch]]).<ref>Jos & Cor Swanenberg: Taal in stad en land: Oost-Brabants, {{ISBN|9012090105}}</ref>

==Population centres==
{{columns-list|colwidth=12em|
* Aarle
* Batadorp
* De Vleut
* Dijkstraten
* Heikant
* Heivelden
* Heuveleind
* Hoge Akker
* Kantonnier
* Koekoeksbos
* Naastenbest
* Oud-Best
* Salderes
* Speelheide
* Steegsche velden (Construction)
* Wilhelminadorp
}}

==Politics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" |Parties
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" |Seats 2002-06
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" |Seats 2006-10
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" |Seats 2010-14
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" |Seats 2014-18
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" |Seats 2018-22
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" |Seats 2022-26
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| 6
| 5
| 6
| 4
| 3
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Democrats 66|D66]]
| 1
| 1
| 4
| 4
| 2
| 4
|-
|-

| style="text-align:left;" |[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| 3
| 3
| 3
| 3
| 6
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |Best Open
| 4
| 4
| 3
| 2
| 3
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]
| 3
| 5
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |Youth Party JO
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 2
| 3
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |Local Interests
| 2
| 1
| 1
| 2
| 2
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[ChristianUnion]]
| -
| -
| -
| 1
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |Local Best
| -
| -
| -
| 1
| -
| -
|-
!style="text-align:left;background-color:#E9E9E9"|Total
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"| 21
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"| 21
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"| 21
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"| 21
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"| 21<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 March 2018 |title=Best municipal election 2018 |url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20180321/671773 |access-date=3 February 2024|website=www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl|language=nl}}</ref>
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9"| 23<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2022 |title=Best municipal election 2022 |url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/731188 |access-date=3 February 2024|website=www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl|language=nl}}</ref>
|-
|-
|}

==Transport==
For train transport, see [[Best railway station]].

One can take bus number 9 from [[Eindhoven]] central station to Best, or bus numbers 141/142 from [[Tilburg]] central station to Best.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

==Notable people==
[[File:José Hoebee.jpg|140px|thumb|José Hoebee, 1979]]
* [[José Hoebee]] (born 1954 in Best) Dutch pop singer and member of girl group ''[[Luv']]''<ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0388370/ IMDb Database] retrieved 22 December 2019 </ref>
* {{ill|Rob Kemps|nl|Rob Kemps}} (born 1985 in Best) cabaret artist and artist of ''Snollebollekes''<ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10076909/ IMDb Database] retrieved 22 December 2019 </ref>
* [[Ralf Mackenbach]] (born 1995 in Best) Dutch singer and dancer, winner of the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2009]]

===Sport===
* [[Eric Swinkels]] (born 1949 in Best) sports shooter and silver medallist at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Hans Stacey]] (born 1958 in Best) Dutch rally driver
* [[Peter Aerts]] (born 1970) Dutch semi-retired super heavyweight kickboxer, trained in Best
* [[Jesse Mahieu]] (born 1978 in Best) field hockey defender and team silver medallist at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Dennis Retera]] (born 1986 in Best) Dutch racing driver
* [[Roel van de Sande]] (born 1987 in Best) Dutch professional footballer with 250 club caps

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:2019-10-26 Station Best stationsgebouw.jpg|[[Best railway station]]
File:Armenhoef-best 02 foto-michiel-wasmus.jpg|Armenhoef, Best
File:Historia park Best A0953.jpg|Historia Park, Best
File:Best - Schots gedenkteken.jpg|Best - [[15th (Scottish) Infantry Division|Scottish]] war memorial
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official|gemeentebest.nl}}

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Best
 | North     = [[Boxtel]]
 | Northeast = [[Meierijstad]]
 | East      = [[Son en Breugel]]
 | South     = [[Eindhoven]]
 | West      = [[Oirschot]]
}}
{{North Brabant Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Best, Netherlands| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of North Brabant]]
[[Category:Populated places in North Brabant]]