Frederik Hendrik of Orange's Bastion, 's-HertogenboschSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bastionoranje.JPG
Author: Arrownl
's-Hertogenbosch (Colloquial Dutch:
Den Bosch, French:
Bois-le-Duc, German:
Herzogenbusch, Spanish:
Bolduque, Italian:
Boscoducale, Latin:
Silva Ducis) is the provincial capital of
North Brabant in
the Netherlands. This Dutch city covers 91.26 sq km (35.2 sq mi) and has a population of 136,000 (2011 estimate).
Sint-Jans Cathedral, 's-HertogenboschSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sintjandenboschnl.jpg
Author: Karrow

's-Hertogenbosch's rather unusual-looking name is in fact short for "des Hertogen bosch", meaning "the Duke's forest". Colloquially, the city is simply called Den Bosch, meaning "The Forest". According to traditional sources, the duke who founded 's-Hertogenbosch was Henry I, Duke of Brabant, who at age 26 granted the settlement its city rights in 1185. The earliest mention of 's-Hertogenbosch however only appears in 1196.
's-Hertogenbosch's good location helped it to prosper in the 19th century. During this period it was first governed by France, in 1806, then by Prussia in 1814, and finally became the provincial capital of North Brabant when the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was established in 1815. Today 's-Hertogenbosch is a small city with many interested places of interest.
Winkelstraat, Den BoschSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winkelstraat_Den_Bosch.jpeg
Author: PhilipC
Visiting 's-Hertogenbosch
The most practical way to reach 's-Hertogenbosch is by train from Amsterdam. If you arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you can take a train that goes directly to 's-Hertogenbosch.
Places of Interest in 's-Hertogenbosch
- Binnen-Dieze
The inner canal of 's-Hertogenbosch. Houses stand directly in its water.
- Jeroen (Hieronymus) Bosch Statue
This is the statue of a famous Dutch painter, whose family name was van Aken, but took the name Bosch because he hailed from Den Bosch.
- Moriaan
A medieval building with stepped gable, believed to be the oldest building in 's-Hertogenbosch.
- Noordbrabants Museum
Museum exhibiting historical information regarding the region of North Brabant.
- Sint-Jans Cathedral
This is the main attraction of the city. Although established in the Romanesque style in the 13th century, the present structure of the Church of Sint Jan was built in the late-14th to 16th century in the Gothic style.
- Stadhuis
The town hall of 's-Hertogenbosch, built in the Neo-Classical style in 1670.
- Zwanen Brothers House
Philantrophic gourmand siblings whose house is now a museum.
's-Hertogenbosch is
on the map of the Netherlands
Copyright ©
2003-2025 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.