's-Hertogenbosch travel guide
Sint-Jan, an underground river and the Bossche bol
North Brabant's capital, a compact medieval city with a Gothic cathedral, boat trips on the hidden Binnendieze and long stretches of restored ramparts. April to October is best for boats and terraces; carnival before Lent is wild and packed. One full day, or two at an easy pace. Costs are very high, and Schengen rules give many visitors 90 days.
's-Hertogenbosch, almost always called Den Bosch, is the capital of North Brabant and one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with city rights from 1184. Its centre is compact and largely car-free. It grew up where the Aa meets the Dommel, just south of the Maas. The painter Hieronymus Bosch took his name from the town.
Start with Sint-Janskathedraal, the Gothic cathedral begun in 1380, then go underground. The Binnendieze, a river the medieval town built over until it ran beneath houses and streets, once ran for about 12 km; roughly a third survives, and small guided boats use it. Trips sell out, so buy tickets early at the Bolwerk, which also has a café.
For a quieter walk, follow the southern ramparts from Bastion Vught past Bastion Oranje to the Zuid-Willemsvaart; the restored walls won the city European Fortress of the Year in 2004. Eat on Korte or Lange Putstraat and book a terrace table in summer. Do not leave without a Bossche bol, a cream-filled choux ball dipped in chocolate.
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A Gothic cathedral, a river under the streets and ramparts to walk.
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Best time to visit 's-Hertogenbosch
Month by month, so you can pick the weather and the crowds you want.
Mild weather for the rampart walk, Binnendieze boat trips and terraces on the Putstraten.
For several days before Lent the city renames itself Oeteldonk and the centre fills with costumed crowds.
Carnival brings big crowds and heavy drinking; book rooms well ahead, or avoid those days if you want the museums in peace.
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Getting there
Eindhoven buses, Schiphol trains and the walk up Stationsweg
Den Bosch sits on a rail crossroads, with direct trains north to Utrecht, Amsterdam and Schiphol, east to Nijmegen and Arnhem, and south to Eindhoven. Eindhoven Airport is nearest: a 20-minute bus to Eindhoven station, then a train of under 20 minutes. From Den Bosch station, Stationsweg leads straight into the old centre.
- Eindhoven (EIN)
- Bus to Eindhoven station, then a train of under 20 minutes; under 50 minutes in total
- Schiphol (AMS)
- About 1.5 hours by train, several connections an hour
- Rotterdam The Hague (RTM)
- Bus to Rotterdam Centraal, then a direct Intercity; under 2 hours
- Walking in
- Stationsweg runs from the station into the old centre
- Check 9292.nl for the fastest Schiphol connection at your time of day, as the best route changes.
Where to stay
Around the Markt, by Stationsweg or out at Pettelaarpark
Sleep inside the old centre of Den Bosch if you can, around the Markt, because everything worth seeing is there and the streets stay lively late. Stationsweg suits rail day trips, Pettelaarpark has hotels out of town, and carnival week books up early.
- Around the Markt
- Golden Tulip Hotel Central, the white building on the north side of the Markt, close to the cathedral and restaurants; among the pricier choices
- Station side
- A short walk in, quicker for day trips by train to Eindhoven or Utrecht
- Pettelaarpark by the A2
- The Mövenpick hotel near the motorway, best for drivers; a bus or bike ride from the centre
Getting around
Pedestrian lanes from Stationsweg to the Markt
Walk Den Bosch's old centre, where most streets are for pedestrians and cyclists and the cathedral, the Markt, the Bolwerk boat landing and the southern ramparts are short strolls apart. Arriva buses all call at the central station and take contactless cards. Garages fill on Thursday evenings and Saturdays, so come by train.
- Bike
- OV-fiets and a guarded bike park at the station
- Arriva buses
- Suburbs and nearby villages, all from the station
- Walking
- Most of the centre is for pedestrians and bikes only
- Parking
- Central garages fill on Thursday evenings and Saturdays
Know before you go
What makes 's-Hertogenbosch worth the trip, and what catches visitors out.
Why travelers love it
- A Binnendieze boat trip, gliding beneath houses on the surviving third of the old city waterway.
- Sint-Janskathedraal, begun in 1380 and still the city's dominant landmark.
- The southern ramparts, from Bastion Vught along the walls to the Zuid-Willemsvaart.
Good to know
- Book Binnendieze boats ahead, especially at weekends; tickets are sold at the Bolwerk.
- Thursday to Saturday nights get rowdy, and carnival week more so.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Weather in 's-Hertogenbosch, month by month
Den Bosch's July and August highs reach about 22°C, and January's about 4°C. July is the wettest month at about 89 mm, April the driest at about 30 mm.
Climate figures are approximate long-term averages for Gemert-Bakel (Weatherbase, via Wikipedia).
Sint-Jan, a Binnendieze boat and the southern bastions of Den Bosch
Walk from the station to Sint-Janskathedraal, begun in 1380, and spend an hour inside before circling its restored stone exterior. Buy tickets at the Bolwerk for a Binnendieze boat through the tunnels under the city, lunch on Korte Putstraat, then choose between Het Noordbrabants Museum and the Jheronimus Bosch Art Center.
Late in the day, walk the southern fortifications: start at Bastion Vught and go north along Parklaan, Spinhuiswal and Zuidwal, past Bastion Oranje and the Hekellaan, to the bridge over the Zuid-Willemsvaart. It is the best-preserved stretch of the old defences.
Evening. Have dinner back on the Putstraten or on Hinthamerstraat, home to Café De Palm. Thursday to Saturday are the lively nights. Before you leave, buy a Bossche bol to eat on the train.
The Bossche bol and other things to eat on the Putstraten
One pastry rules in Den Bosch: the Bossche bol, a fist-sized ball of choux pastry filled with whipped cream and coated in dark chocolate, eaten with a fork and a napkin. Savoury eating is concentrated on Korte and Lange Putstraat, and nights out are friendly and relaxed, at places such as De Drie Gezusters.
Bakeries across the centre sell it, and the best-known maker is Jan de Groot on Stationsweg. Eat it the same day; the cream does not keep.
Korte Putstraat and Lange Putstraat, together the Putstraten, hold a broad run of restaurants with outdoor terraces in summer. Walk-ins usually find a seat somewhere, but a particular restaurant or a good terrace table needs booking, as the best fill up. Elsewhere in the centre, Hinthamerstraat has a run of cafes, Café De Palm among them, and chip shops are never far away.
Nights out are friendly and relaxed. De Drie Gezusters, with a pub and several other spaces under one roof, is among the busiest places in town. At carnival, when the city turns into Oeteldonk, the bars spill out into the streets for days, so book any meal well ahead or expect to eat standing up.
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How we research our 's-Hertogenbosch travel guide
Den Bosch's rail links are checked with NS Dutch Railways, and the cathedral, Binnendieze and Oeteldonk carnival notes against the city's official site, Holland.com and Wikipedia.
Last updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Checked against trusted sources:
Official website of 's-HertogenboschHolland.comNS Dutch Railways
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most before visiting 's-Hertogenbosch.
Getting there
Take the bus to Eindhoven station (about 20 minutes), then a direct train of under 20 minutes. Allow under an hour in total.
Yes. Every main sight sits inside the old centre, where most streets are for pedestrians and cyclists, and the station is a short walk away along Stationsweg.
General
A large ball of choux pastry filled with whipped cream and coated in chocolate, sold at bakeries across the centre.
By train, in about an hour and a half, with several connections each hour. Use 9292.nl to pick the quickest.
One full day covers the cathedral, a Binnendieze boat and the ramparts; two days lets you add both museums at an easy pace.
The name Den Bosch takes during carnival, when for several days before Lent the centre fills with costumed crowds and street parties.
Den Bosch is a safe city. The only rough edges come late on Thursday to Saturday nights and during carnival, when heavy drinking can lead to the odd scuffle.
On the south side, from Bastion Vught past Bastion Oranje to the Zuid-Willemsvaart. The restored defences earned the title European Fortress of the Year in 2004.
Walk Den Bosch's old centre, where most streets are for pedestrians and cyclists and the cathedral, the Markt, the Bolwerk boat landing and the southern ramparts are short strolls apart. Arriva buses all call at the central station and take contactless cards. Garages fill on Thursday evenings and Saturdays, so come by train.
Booking
Buy tickets at the Bolwerk, which also has a cafe and free toilets. Trips are popular, so book early on weekends and in summer.
On Korte Putstraat and Lange Putstraat, which have the widest choice and summer terraces. Reserve if you want a specific place.
Timing & weather
The best time to visit 's-Hertogenbosch is Apr to Oct. Mild days for the ramparts walk, boat trips and the Putstraat terraces.
- Best overall: April - October (Mild weather for the rampart walk, Binnendieze boat trips and terraces on the Putstraten)
- Carnival: February - March (For several days before Lent the city renames itself Oeteldonk and the centre fills with costumed crowds)
July is the warmest month in 's-Hertogenbosch, with average highs of 22°C, and February the coolest, with lows of -2°C. July is the wettest month, at about 89 mm of rain; April is the driest. Den Bosch's July and August highs reach about 22°C, and January's about 4°C.
Visa & documents
Schengen rules govern entry to the Netherlands. Citizens of the EU and of many other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers' fingerprints and a photo at the border.
Health & safety
Crime in the Netherlands is low. Bike theft and pickpocketing in busy areas are the main issues; watch out for cyclists.
