Maasbracht (Dutch:[maːzˈbrɑxt]ⓘ; Limburgish: Brach[ˈbʀɑx]) is a town in the southeastern Netherlands. It was a separate municipality until 1 January 2007, when it became a part of the new municipality of Maasgouw.
History
The village was first mentioned in 1265 as "de Bragth", and means "newly cultivated land near the river Maas."[3] Maasbracht developed along the river Maas in the Early Middle Ages. In 1294, it became part of Ambt Montfort. In 1716, it became part of the Dutch Republic.[4]
The Catholic St Gertrudis Church is a long church with double transept. The tower was built in the 14th century. It was severely damaged in 1944, and a new church was built between 1948 and 1949.[4]
Maasbracht was home to 305 people in 1840. In 1934, the Juliana Canal was dug as a bypass for the unnavigable parts of the Maas. The canal transformed Maasbracht in a main harbour and it started to industrialise. Maasbracht has the largest inland harbour of the Netherlands.[5]
It was an independent municipality until 2007 when it was merged into Maasgouw. It is the capital of the municipality of Maasgouw.[5]
