Den Bosch Favorites

Favorite thing: The local tourist information office here in s'Hertogenbosch is situated in one of the city's oldest brick buildings just off the market square.

Here you can get all the advice you need regarding things to do, public transport, assistance with accommodation and the usual freebie leaflets. They also act as agents for local events and have all sorts of souvenirs and guidebooks for sale.

For the website click VVVDenBosch

Favorite thing: This is a statue of Zoete Lieve Gerritje - a character from a popular nursery rhyme who went to Den Bosch.
It goes like this: that goes to Den Bosch Sweet Gerritje, that goes to Den Bosch sweet goat.
The first farmer is the best, sweet Gerritje, the first farmer is the best sweet goat.
When I write it here it doesn¡¦t make any sense to me, however we sing it in the Netherlands for so long that nobody really care for the words ƒº

Favorite thing: Den Bosch has it's nickname "The Dragon of Marshes", for its position as a powerful city on the formerly swampy banks of the river Dieze, which made it hard to conquer for centuries. that's why you see the golden dragon on top of this monument.
You find this monument right across the railway station.

Favorite thing: If you look close at this picture you see a wooden extension at this house. In the old days this wooden extension was easy to do the laundry and pass water cause the extension is right above the water!!

Favorite thing: the only church in Europe where you can sail under. In 1964 They want to fill in the canals because the water was filthy and thousands of rats where living there. However two gentleman provide this from happening. Thanks to those gentleman we are able to sail on the Binnendieze. One of these man has is house above the binnendieze.

Favorite thing: If you walk along the water (continued from the previous tip)on your right you'll find stairs. Walk up and you'll see this impressive gate. At first I thought it was an entrance to some monastery and I took several pictures. I assumed that it was closed for visitors because of the Queen's Day and didn' even try to find out what it looks like from inside. When I was ready to continue my tour a litle kid appeared from nowhere, he walked to the gate and walked through leaving it open. To my surprise I discovered that the gate was nothing but a door to the street. Once you walk through you find youself on a busy road with cars and buses. It is known that Den Bosch was surrouned by a wall, probably the gate was the way to the town.

Favorite thing: If you travel by train, this statue will be the first thing you see once you got out of the train station.
Den Bosch has it's nickname "The Dragon of Marshes", that's why you see the golden dragon monument there.
The staue is very impressive, apart from the golden dragon on the top you'll find another 4 at the bottom of it, which are also fountains.

Favorite thing: Right infront of the Dutch Manneken Pis (have to call like it like this since I don't know the real name) you'll find the stairs that will lead you to the water. Hard to believe that you're in the middle of the city. Such a relaxing view.

Favorite thing: Didn't we see something similar in Brussels? Looks like Dutch have their own version of Manneken Pis. If you have enough time to walk through all the narrow streets and colorful backyards of Den Bosch you can find this statue at the Herman Moerkerkplein

Favorite thing: The famous medieval painter Jeroen (Hieronymos) Bosch had his roots here. He worked his whole life in Den Bosch but none of his paintings survive in the city, bar two plain portraits of Jesus and Mary, now on display in St Jan's cathedral.

Most of his surreal and often disturbing works are in Madrid's Prado museum, but there are more examples closer by: in Rotterdam, Gent and Brugge.

For more info on this extraordinary painter, check out the Jeroen Bosch website or www.boschuniverse.com for English info.