gemeente (municipality), southeastern Netherlands. It lies along the Aa River and the Zuid-Willems Canal east of Eindhoven. Its textile factories and iron foundries have suffered in recent decades, and the town is now dependent on the service sector. A 15th-century castle formerly housed the local government, which moved out in 1982 and was replaced by a small museum and an art gallery. There are several wildlife preserves and other castles in the vicinity. Pop. (2007 est.) 86,061.