Your Essential Travel Guide To 's-Hertogenbosch
Discover Things To Do In 's-Hertogenbosch
's-Hertogenbosch, simply called 'Den Bosch', is a city in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and also the capital of the province of North Brabant.
Prince Henry I founded a city on the forested dunes, among wetlands, and granted him city rights and trade permits in 1185. The city was built as a fortress to defend against invasions from the Netherlands and Gelderland.
The full name of the city means "Forest of the Governor" or "Prince’s Forest". City’s name is also associated with the painter Hieronymus Bosch, known for his symbolism.
Getting there
Den Bosch is well connected through the main highways, but expect traffic jams on the A2 motorway at rush hour. A59 road that leads to the city of Roosendaal is less busy and is convenient if travelling from Dover or Calais (2.5h by car).
If you are traveling by a ferry to Amsterdam, we recommend taking the A9, E35 and E25, which takes about an hour and 15 minutes.
's-Hertogenbosch has a very well developed bicycle infrastructure. Visitors can also take advantage of the convenient Park and Ride system. For 2 EUR you can park your car for the whole day and get to the city by bus or free bicycle.
What to visit?
Visit St John's Cathedral which was built in 1220 and is known for the Brabant Gothic architecture. It is also the largest Catholic building in the Netherlands. Pay attention to the organs and figures of craftsmen in arches.
Another important site is The Citadel – a fort built in the 17th century to defend the city against attacks by the Spaniards. For centuries, the building served as a prison, barracks and also studies for artists before it was established in the Historical Information Center of Brabant.
You should also visit city hall, designed by Jan Derk Ennis, who was one of the people responsible for the design of the St John's Cathedral.
It’s also worth mentioning The Moriaan building, the oldest brick building in the country, which is located on the main square in the city centre. Building now houses the tourist information office.
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