Eindhoven is a major city in the Netherlands, but in the Napoleonic period it was a tiny town with very minor fortifications. Breda was an important garrison town, defending the Dutch Republic against who ever controlled Antwerp, but the garrison also served to keep the second class citizens of the Republic –the Catholics- under control. The last thing the Dutch had wanted for the previous three centuries was good communications with the Southern Netherlands. Basically the region of the “Kempen” (Mol, Geel, Herentals, Lier) and both Limburgs (the actual provinces of Belgian and Dutch Limburg) was moor, sand and marshes, only good for sheep. A very low population density and little in the way of roads.
Antwerp is on the right (Dutch) side of the Scheldt. If the French had control of the river forts on the left bank, they had total control over the Scheldt and Antwerp, no tête de pont for Wellington.
Maastricht was heavily fortified and more or less untakable, so the Prussians could have holed up there, defensively; In order to block Prussian sallies, the French would have probably concentrated in the town of Diest. A very strong defensive position that covers Tienen. Napoleon believed that Belgium would raise 50.000 men, armed, fed and clothed in a matter of weeks. A bit optimistic, but certainly enough men to absorb the battle losses of a decisive battle against either allied wing.

In a time where information was scarce, precedent had great value. So I do believe that all generals of the period were, to a certain extent, conditionned by what had happened in the past. I'm pretty sure that Wellington had a well stocked library close at hand. Dangerous of course... Charleroi, where precedent said Mons or Tournai;

Best regards,

Bruno