Both towns, created in the Middle Ages, were relatively prosperous during the period of the Dutch Republic, the exception being the period of the Eighty Years' War in which the area was a major battleground.
Kedua kota, berdiri pada Abad Pertengahan, terlihat makmur selama periode Republik Belanda, kecuali saat periode Perang Delapan Puluh Tahun di mana daerah tersebut menjadi medan pertempuran besar.