Explore Den Bosch Like a Local: Your Complete Travel Guide

Whenever someone asks me about my favourite city in the Netherlands, I don’t even have to think – it’s always Den Bosch. I’ve explored many Dutch cities since moving here, but this one has a special magic. Picture cobbled streets lined with colourful houses, the soaring spires of St. John’s Cathedral, the famous Bossche Bollen, those giant, indulgent chocolate-coated cream puffs, and a laid-back welcoming vibe that instantly makes you feel at home.

Officially called ’s-Hertogenbosch (but locals and visitors alike stick to the easier “Den Bosch”), this southern gem is the capital of North Brabant – a province known for its joie de vivre, lively festivals, and great food. In this guide, I’ll share the best things to see, eat, and do so you can fall for Den Bosch just like I did.

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A bit of history…

Den Bosch was founded in 1185, when Henry I, Duke of Brabant, granted the settlement city rights and valuable trade privileges. Its full name, ’s-Hertogenbosch, translates to “The Duke’s Forest” – a nod to its medieval origins. By the 16th century, it had grown into the second-largest city in what is now the Netherlands, after Utrecht.

During the turbulent Eighty Years’ War, Den Bosch was besieged several times while remaining loyal to the Catholic cause. Centuries later, it was spared from heavy bombing in World War II, meaning much of its historic charm has survived intact. Today, you can still wander its centuries-old streets, admire its well-preserved architecture, and feel the layers of history beneath your feet.

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

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 day trip from Amsterdam.

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.

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

What to Do in Den Bosch – Top Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss

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.

Explore the City on Foot – Guided or Self-Guided

The fun 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.

All attractions and museums in Den Bosch are indicated on the map below.

St. John’s Cathedral – A Gothic Masterpiece You Can Still Climb

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, even now it’s undergoing a rennovation.

The cathedral is still operating, so it’s open for visiting 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. They say they were inspired by Hieronymus Bosch and his fantastic world.

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.

Climbing on the roof was made again possible in 2023 as they kept renovating the cathedral. Unfortunately, the repairs had been done and it’s not possible to climb on the roof anymore. However, I suggest that you check the website of Sint-Jan, as you never know.

“The Wondrous Climb” (De Wonderlijke Klim) was an amazing experience and I must admit, this was one of the most unusual tours I have ever done.

Although you can walk anymore on the roof of the cathedral you can still climb the 73-m high tower of the Cathedral! And as you can expect the view is equally mesmerizing. The viewing platform is at 43 m, where the large clock is.

You can buy tickets for the tower here.

The City Hall – Baroque Beauty in the Heart of the Market Square

The City Hall in Den Bosch is a marvelous building that dominates the Market Square. It was built in the 13^th century and completely renovated in 17^th 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 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.

De Moriaan – One of the Oldest Brick Buildings in the Netherlands

This reddish brick building with a turret located 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 13^th century and is a typical example of a hall house.

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

The Dragon Fountain – Golden Guardian of the Train Station

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.

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”.

Walk the Ramparts – Den Bosch’s Medieval Walls and Bastions

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 14^th century the city walls were drastically expanded.

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 19^th 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.

The Market Square – Colourful Cafés, Weekly Markets, and People-Watching

The Market Square (Markt) in Den Bosch is the lively heart of the city, surrounded by colorful historic buildings, cozy cafés, and bustling terraces. For centuries, it’s been the center of trade and gatherings, and you can still feel that vibrant energy today.

It’s the perfect spot to sit with a coffee and watch daily life unfold, or to explore the weekly markets and seasonal events that bring the square to life.

Visit One of the Museums in Den Bosch

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.

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.

Pro tip: Buy you tickets online to save 2 EUR!

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.

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 one of the greatest medieval painters, 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 above.

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

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.

Where to Eat in Den Bosch?

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, the Parade and the Vismarkt.

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 giant cream puff covered in a thick layer of glossy dark chocolate. About the size of a tennis ball, it’s filled with fresh whipped cream and best enjoyed with a strong coffee in one of the city’s cafés.

The best place to try the original bossche bol is at Jan de Groot, right by the train station, where this indulgent pastry has been perfected for decades. Also cafés that serve the original treat will have a sign on the front door indicating this, so that you know you are getting the real stuff.

This is pastry is so famous that it got it’s mini museum located in the Old Town Hall.

Click here to book the Bossche Bol Experience.

Where to Stay in Den Bosch?

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:

Tips for Visiting Den Bosch

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 and is open when the tulips bloom, from end of March till mid 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.