The Ultimate Travel Guide to Den Bosch

If someone asks me which is my favourite city in the Netherlands, and believe me I have been to many of them as I live there, I will answer without any doubt – it is Den Bosch! What makes Den Bosch so special and why you should visit it? Find out here in this city guide.

‘s-Hertogenbosch (don’t even try to pronounce the name, better use the shortened version – Den Bosch), is a laid-back historical city in the south of the Netherlands, a capital of the province of North Brabant (Noord Brabant), famous for the joie de vivre, hospitality, carnival and good food.

Tip: Stay longer in Den Bosch and discover North Brabant with this 4-day itinerary.

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A bit of history…

The city was founded by Duke Henry I of Brabant and in 1185 he granted the settlement city rights and trade privileges. The name of ‘s-Hertogenbosch translated from the Dutch language means “the Forest of the Duke”. In the 16th century the city was the second biggest on the territory of today’s Netherlands after Utrecht.

During the Eighty Years’ War the city was besieged a few times as it fought on the side of the Catholics. Luckily enough the city was spared during the WW2 and was not destroyed by bombardments.

Den Bosch, the Netherlands, 's-Hertogenbosch, a quiet street
Den Bosch, the Netherlands

If you take one of the side alleys you will find yourself in an absolutely idyllic place – quiet, quirky and laid-back. A street away is the busy Saturday market on the Square, unbelievable, isn’t it?

How to get to Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)

By public transportation

Den Bosch is easily accessible from Amsterdam or from any place in general in the Netherlands. The best way to travel to Den Bosch is by train. The city has good connections with Amsterdam and other major Dutch cities. It takes only 1 hour from the Central Train Station in Amsterdam to Den Bosch, thus making Den Bosch a perfect destination for a one-day trip from Amsterdam.

The best way to find out how to travel from A to B in the Netherlands is to use the Glimble app. You can buy your tickets in the app and travel hassle-free. The app is absolutely free to download.

By car

However, if you have rented a car for your stay in the Netherlands, you can head to Den Bosch hitting A2, just remember no matter how good the Dutch highway system is, traffic jams are a daily occurrence on the Dutch highways. A2 is particularly busy, although if you travel from Amsterdam to Den Bosch in the morning you will be travelling in the “right” direction for traffic jams, which means that they will be less severe than if you were traveling the opposite direction.

When you arrive by car in Den Bosch, I will advise you to use one of the 3 parking terrains just outside the city centre, where you can park for free and then you can take the bus to the city centre. If you decide to park in the city, but please, think of pollution and traffic in this historical place, you can do so in one of the many parking garages, or you can park alternatively on the street.

What to do in Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)

The historical centre of Den Bosch is pretty compact and the city is absolutely walkable. I would recommend you just to take your time and walk around. This is the best way to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city.

Read more: Best day trips from Den Bosch – lovely cities, quaint villages, and beautiful nature

Do a walking tour of the city centre

The best way to discover Den Bosch is by taking a walking tour. If you don’t want to walk around with a large group of people, a self-guided tour is the perfect solution!

Click here to book your self-guided tour of Den Bosch with an audio guide.

a lovely market square with typical Dutch houses and a water well in the middle, the market square in Den Bosch, 4 day itinerary in North Brabant the Netherlands

Discover the best attractions in Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)

All sights and museums are indicated on the map below.

St. John’s Cathedral

St. John’s Cathedral (Sint-Janskathedraal), or simply Sint-Jan, the way it is locally called, is a fine example of the Gothic Architecture. The construction of the church began in 1220 and was finished in 1530. Initially, the church was built outside of the city walls. It was only in 1559 when the church became a cathedral and a seat of the bishopric of ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

In 1566 during the so called Iconoclastic Fury (Beeldenstorm) a lot of the interior decorations were destroyed or removed by the mobs formed by Calvinist Protestants. In 1629 the Sint-Jan became a Protestant church. It was returned to the Roman Catholics in 1810 by Napoleon. The cathedral went through many restorations, the last one just finished recently in 2012.

Saint John's Cathedral, Den Bosch, the Netherlands, Sint Jan, Sint Janskathedraal, Brabant, North Brabant, de Parade
Saint John’s Cathedral, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

The cathedral is still operating, so it’s open to visit outside of the mass hours.

A unique detail about the cathedral are the 96 statues on the flying buttresses. There are 16 flying buttresses with 6 statues sitting on each buttress. They portray different professions, animals and mythical figures.

In 2016 when Den Bosch was commemorating 500 years from the death of Hieronymus Bosch (the most important Medieval painter in the Netherlands), I was able to climb the roof gutters of the cathedral and see those figures from a close distance.

Good news: Climbing on the roof is made again possible in 2023 as they keep renovating the cathedral and using the scaffolding for that. So, if you visit Den Bosch, do not miss this unique chance! They’ve announced that when the scaffolding is removed, visits won’t be possible anymore.

Saint John's Cathedral, Den Bosch, the Netherlands, Sint Jan, Sint Janskathedraal, Brabant, North Brabant, de Wonderlijke klim, the Wonderous Climb
Saint John’s Cathedral, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

It was an amazing experience, a part of “The Wondrous Climb” (De Wonderlijke Klim). I hope this will not be a one-off event, and the city will renew it at one point, allowing more people to see this magical side of the cathedral. I must admit, this was one of the most amazing tours I have ever done.

Statues, Sint Jan, Den Bosch, St. John's Cathedral, Sint Janskathedraal, 's-Hertogenbosch, Brabant, North Brabant
Statues, Sint Jan, Den Bosch

There are 96 of these unusual statues sitting on the flying buttresses of the St. John’s Cathedral. They say they were inspired by Hieronymus Bosch and his fantastic world.

A View from Sint Jan, Den Bosch, 's-Hertogenbosch, Saint John's Cathedral, Sint Janskathedraal, rooftop view, bierdview. view fro the top, flying buttresses
A View from Sint Jan, Den Bosch

A view from the roof of the Saint John’s Cathedral. At the distance you can see the highest residential building in Den Bosch – the Jheronimus – 24 stories, 75 m.

You can also climb the 43-m high tower of the Cathedral.

The City Hall

The city hall in Den Bosch is a marvelous building that dominates the Market Square. It was built in the 13th century and completely renovated in 17th century. The old council chamber is decorated with impressive tapestry. If you happen to say the “yes” word in this lovely baroque building, you will do this in style, as the walls of the wedding hall are luxuriously decorated with golden leather. You can visit the city hall as a part of the walking tour of Den Bosch.

The City Hall, Den Bosch, the Netherlands, baroque building, Brabant, North Brabant
The City Hall, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

The City Hall actually consists of three houses that were put up together as one building in the 17th century. The middle part is the oldest of the three. It has been serving as a city hall since 1366.

Wall decoration, City Hall, Den Bosch
Leather wall decoration, City Hall, Den Bosch
City Hall, Den Bosch, Interior, decorations, 's-Hertogenbosch, Brabant, North Braband, wall deco
City Hall, Den Bosch, Interior

De Moriaan

This reddish brick building with a turret at one end of the Market Square is one of the oldest preserved brick buildings in the Netherlands. It was built in the first half of the 13th century and is a typical example of a hall house.

's-Hertogenbosch, Den Bosch, the Netherlands, Brabant, North Brabant, de Moriaan, VVV, Tourist Office, Plein 79, club
De Moriaan, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

Through the centuries De Moriaan served various purposes: from a place for services of the Lutheran community in the 17th c. to a theatre in the 18th century. Today it houses the City’s Tourist Office. The building was completely restored between 1963 and 1967.

The Dragon Fountain

If you come by train to Den Bosch, you cannot miss the Dragon Fountain. When you get out of the train station and head to the city centre, you will pass by this impressive fountain with a golden dragon on top. The fountain was built in 1903 and has a bit of a sad story behind. When the provincial governor P.J. Bosch van Drakestein died in 1894, he left the municipality of Den Bosch 10 000 Dutch guilders and requested the money to be used for the building of a fountain as a memorial for his deceased twin daughters (aged 16) and wife.

golden plated dragon with a fountain on a square, The Dragon Fountain, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
The Dragon Fountain, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

The dragon on the top of the column is completely plated in gold. If you ask yourself, why exactly they chose a dragon for this fountain, well, the name (Drakestein) of the governor translates from Dutch (“draak”) as “a dragon”.

Ramparts

The city walls of Den Bosch are quite well preserved and restored together with some of the bastions and city gates. The first city walls were built between 1220 and 1250 around the today’s Market Square. The settlement grew rapidly and in the 14th century the city walls were drastically expanded.

The Dommel River, Den Bosch, the Netherlands, Brabant, North Brabant, view from a bridge.
The Dommel River, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

In the following centuries the city walls were turned into fortifications and Den Bosch became a medieval stronghold surviving a few sieges. At the end of the 19th centuries a great part of the fortifications was demolished to give way to the expansion of the city. However, the walls had remained almost intact.

Market Square, Den Bosch, the Netherlands, Brabant, North Brabant, shops
The Market Square, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

Visit a museum in Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)

If you are a museum lover and you have already done the walking tour, then head to the Museum Quarter, where you can visit the two biggest museums in Den Bosch.

Den Bosch for art lovers, museums in Den Bosch, Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch

Noordbrabants Museum

The Noordbrabants Museum has a collection that focuses on the history and art of the Dutch province of North Brabant. From the 30 000 objects only 15% are exhibited in the museum.

Practical info

Address: Verwersstraat 41, 5211 HT ‘s-Hertogenbosch
Admission fee: adults – 17 EUR (online: 15 EUR), kids under 18 yoa – free of charge
Opening times: Tuesday-Friday, from 11:00 till 17:00; Saturday-Sunday, from 10:00 till 18:00; closed on Mondays
Website: www.hetnoordbrabantsmuseum.nl

Read more: Everything you need to know about Noordbrabants Museum: how to get there, what you can see, what the current exhibitions are.

Design Museum Den Bosch

If you are into modern art and design, then you would love to visit the Design Museum Den Bosch (former Stedelijk Museum). The two museums (Noordbrabants and Design Museum) are connected.

Address: De Mortel 4, 5211 HV Den Bosch
Admission fee: adults – 12 EUR, kids up to 17 yoa – free of charge
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday, from 11:00 till 17:00
Website: designmuseum.nl

Read more: Complete guide about the Design Museum Den Bosch: how to get there, what you can see, what the current exhibitions are.

Jheronimus Bosch Art Centre

The Jheronimus Bosch Art Centre is dedicated to the greatest medieval painter Hieronymus Bosch (1450 – 1516), famous for the fantastic figures and detailed landscapes. The Centre has in its collection all works of the artist in full-size reproductions. As the Centre is hosted in a former church, you can climb the 40-m high tower and admire the city from a bird view.

Address: Jeroen Boschplein 2, 5211 ML ’s-Hertogenbosch
Admission fee: adults – 10 EUR, kids (6-12 yoa) – 5 EUR
Opening times: April to October, Tuesday-Sunday, from 11:00 till 17:30; November, December, March, Tuesday-Sunday, from 12:00 till 17:00
Website: jheronimusbosch-artcenter.nl

Hieronymus Bosch, Graffiti, Den Bosch, Jheronimus Bosch, 's-Hertogenbosch, Brabant, the Netherlands, Noord Brabant, fantastic figures
Hieronymus Bosch, Graffiti, Den Bosch

The spirit of Hieronymus Bosch can be sensed anywhere in his home town. The celebrations in 2016 left a lot of artwork on the streets and there are all those little surprises everywhere in the city: graffiti, fantastic figures at unexpected places. Keep your eyes open when walking around in Den Bosch and you will be rewarded!

Take a boat trip in Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)

One of the best ways to see Den Bosch and explore its hidden treasures is with a boat tour on the Binnendieze. You will be able to go under the houses and reach places which you won’t be able to see otherwise. The river Binnendieze used to be the city’s sewer in the past.

There are different routes of the boat tour and tickets can be booked via the Kring Vrienden van ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The service operates only in April – October.

a water canal that goes under houses and form tunnels and bridges, a trip with a boa ton the Binnendieze in Den Bosch
Binnendieze Boat Trip, Den Bosch

Shopping in Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)

Shopping in Den Bosch is a must-do. There are a lot of lovely independent shops, as well as department stores. On Thursdays the shops are open till late in the evening (21:00) and on Saturdays there is a big market taking place on the Market Square. On Fridays there is a special farmers’ market with organic produce.

Eating in Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)

There is this expression in the Dutch language “Burgundian lifestyle”, which means joie de vivre combined with good food and wine. It is usually attributed to the lifestyle in the province of North Brabant, as compared to the northern provinces. And Den Bosch, being the capital of North Brabant, won’t disappoint you on the culinary front. It’s bustling with great places to eat: from cozy cafés to fancy restaurants and international cuisine – Den Bosch has it all! The most restaurants and cafés are located on the streets the Korte Putstraat, the Uilenburg and the Parade.

When visiting Den Bosch, there is one thing that you absolutely need to try. It is like visiting Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower, but tastier – the Bossche Bol – a gigantic profiterole covered with dark chocolate and filled with whipped cream.

Cafés, restaurants, Vismarkt, Den Bosch, the Netherlands, Brabant, North Barabant, nice atmosphere
Cafés at Vismarkt, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

Where to stay in Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch)

Being a touristy place, Den Bosch offers a wide range of accommodation: from small boutique hotels, to bed & breakfast and international chain hotels. Do you need accommodation in Den Bosch, find the best deals here:



Booking.com

a busy street with shops and restaurants, Kerkstraat in Den Bosch
Kerkstraat, Den Bosch, the Netherlands

You can choose to visit Den Bosch on a day trip, but if you want to stay longer, there are a plenty of things to do and see. There are a lot of festivals organized in the city, so on the cultural side you won’t be disappointed either. If you plan to stay about a week or even more, then I can recommend you visiting a few places in the neighborhood: Heusden – a small fortified town, easily accessible by bus, or the natural reserve – De Biesbosch. If you are a nature lover, you can also spend half a day hiking in the nearby sand dunes at Dunes of Loon and Drunen National Park.

Are you staying in Den Bosch in the spring, then Keukenhof might be a good idea. It takes about hour and a half by car to the famous tulip gardens in Lisse. Just pay attention that Keukenhof is not an all-year-around attraction, it will be open in 2018 from 22 March till 13 May. It you love amusement parks, the Efteling theme park is really close to Den Bosch and you can visit it on a day trip.

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a busy street with cafes and restaurants and the Dutch flag at the background with overlay text - Discover Den Bosch in the Netherlands
a market square with a horse carriage and overlay text: A day trip from Amsterdam to Den Bosch in the Netherlands

20 thoughts on “The Ultimate Travel Guide to Den Bosch”

  1. ! This looks amazing! I did the same thing when I traveled to Netherlands. I was based The hauge and took day trips to different little towns. I missed this one..oh well Im just going to have to come back! lol because this looks beautiful!

    Reply
  2. I wish I’d read this before I went to Amsterdam! This city looks so cool. And St John’s Cathedral is gorgeous! I guess there’s always next time!

    Reply
  3. Oh my goodness, I love the architecture and look of the city. And I’m a total history nerd, and love the background you give. We’ve been saying Amsterdam has to happen for a while, and i love this as a side-trip idea!

    Reply
  4. Looks like an amazing city! Should have known about it while I was roadtripping through the Netherlands in May this year. Your photos are stunning! Oh well, there’s always a next time.

    Reply
    • It makes me so sad when you realize you can’t visit all lovely places in a given country! But as you said, there is always a second time.

      Reply
  5. I I love your beautiful images of the city! Day tours are one of my favourite things to do when visiting a country. I’m happy for this info.

    Reply
  6. Ohh this is beautiful.. Its nice to see other places to visit outside Amsterdam. I also visited a small town called Giethoorn which was really nice. I will make a point to visit Den Bosch on my next trip in Holland. Enjoy.x

    Reply
  7. ooh I’ve never actually heard of this city!! I can see why it’s your favorite though!! Looks so gorgeous, thanks for sharing your favorite place 🙂

    Reply
    • You can also fly to Eindhoven instead of Amsterdam. I am not sure where you live, but if you live in Europe there are great flight deals to Eindhoven as well.

      Reply
  8. This city looks very interesting! I am always amazed by the way Dutch cities have this chill vibe, how you feel you could totally have a laid back life there. Amsterdam is more chaotic (but still I found it a more pleasant chaos than Rome) but Ivisited Nijmegen and I was really surprised by the peaceful and happy atmosphere. I get the same vibes about Den Bosch, and would love to experience it and see if I’d get the same feeling I had in Nijmegen. It really feels like a place with really good quality of life.

    Reply
    • Yes, there are no crowds running from one place with the other consuming the place with their cameras. This is also why I love the Dutch cities!

      Reply
  9. This looks like such a beautiful city. The architecture of the city hall reminds me so much of Munich. Thank you for sharing and exposing me to a new city!

    Reply

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About Daniela

Daniela is the creator and writer of this travel blog. A writer by nature and occupation and traveller by heart, Daniela will take you to all forgotten corners of Europe and even beyond. She travels with her partner, but his only role is to be the greatest fan of this blog. To learn more, check out the About section.