Peter Brueghel, born in Peer

Not much is known about the place of birth of Peter Brueghel the Elder. In 1604, however, his biographer Carel van Mander wrote:

"Peter Brueghel, who was born not far from Breda in a village called Brueghel"

Recent historic research has shown that Breda in fact refers to the Limburg city of Bree.  The "village of Brueghel" is Grote Brogel, one of the districts of Peer. Archaeological excavations have uncovered remnants of what is presumably the house where Brueghel was born.