Day Trip from Amsterdam to Den Bosch

Den Bosch, capital city of the province of Noord-Brabant, is easy to reach by train or car from Amsterdam. This historic city is known for its impressive Cathedral, the many café with outdoor seating and shops and boutiques. Some people go to Den Bosch mainly to eat a Bossche Bol, a profiterole with chocolate icing and filled with whipped cream. The tricky part is how to eat it without spilling the cream all over.

Highlights of Den Bosch

Den Bosch as the city is commonly known, is short for ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the official name. It is the largest fortified city in the Netherlands with a Medieval centre, a cathedral, canals and wharves. It is the birthplace of the medieval painter Hieronymus Bosch.

1. De Markt (Market Square)
2. Bossche Bol
3, St-Janskathedraal
4. Noordbrabants Museum
5. Jheronimus Bosch Art Centre

1. De Markt, Market Square

Market Square is lined with interesting buildings, many of them are restaurants and cafes. A striking building is the thirteenth-century City Hall. The walls of the chambers are decorated with impressive tapestry. The Town Hall is open to have a peep.

When you are on Market Square be sure to look up at a niche in the Town, Hall, just beneath the coats arms and you will see the ‘pèrdjes’ of the carillon turning around every half hour. These equestrians have been involved in a mock battle for almost four centuries.

On Wednesday and Saturday it is market day and every Friday you can find here the Farmers’ Market with local and organic produce. A striking thirteenth-century building is De Moriaan, the first building in the Netherlands made of brick. Today it is home to the VVV (Dutch Tourist Office) and a café where you can taste the celebrated Bossche Bol.

2. Bossche Bol

The Bossche Bol mini-museum is located in the Raadskelder of the city hall in Den Bosch. The Bosche Bol seems like just a pastry, but why do tourists from abroad and the Netherlands come to taste this culinary highlight? The Bossche Bol experience tells the story.

3. St-Janskathedraal

There are only seven cathedrals in the Netherlands and the St-Jan is one of them. De Zoete Moeder (Sweet Mother) is a statue of Mary in the church. Many miracles were attributed to De Zoete Moeder and pilgrims came from far and wide. Today, this statue still attracts many visitors every year. The cathedral is famous for the many the many flying buttresses on the outside of the church with statues of people, animals and monsters. Bring binoculars to dee the details.

4. Noordbrabants Museum

The Noordbrabants Museum is housed in an elegant eighteenth-century government palace in the centre of medieval Den Bosch. The museum collection comprises more than 30,000 objects, such as paintings, prints, drawings, textiles, coins and medals, glassware, silver, arts and crafts, archaeology and typical Brabant objects. It hosts the permanent exhibition ‘Van Gogh in Brabant’ on display are twelve Van Gogh paintings, letters, personal documents and photos.

5. Jheronimus Bosch Art Centre

Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516) born and bred in Den Bosch was a painter famous for his creative paintings full of religious symbolism and allegory. The interactive Jheronimus Bosch Art Centre is located in a former church. Start at the top of the tower and admire the view then work your way down. You will see reproductions of his works and when you have come to ground level floating figures seem to emerge from his works everywhere.

A word of warning about the Bossche Bol

A Bossche Bol with a diameter of 12 cm is almost a meal in itself, so come with a big appetite. This delicacy is the brainchild of Bakkerij De Groot. This baker’s shop doubles as cafe where you can taste the Bossche Bol or go to one of the café’s in town that show the sign: ‘Original Bossche Bol’, as these get their supply from Bakkerij De Groot.

Getting there

Den Bosch is 80 km south of Amsterdam
By car: via A27 and A2
By train: from Amsterdam Central Station, change trains at Utrecht Centraal and get off at ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Next article: Day Trip to Zaanse Schans and Windmills
Previous article: Day Trip to Delft: learn about Delft Blue pottery