Historical Centre

The Historical Centre of 's-Hertogenbosch, known in Dutch as Erfgoed 's-Hertogenbosch, is the city's heritage centre, housed in the Groot Tuighuis, the old arsenal on the Bethaniestraat. The building is a seventeenth-century military store, built when 's-Hertogenbosch was one of the great fortress cities of the Dutch Republic, and its presence gives the exhibition a strong sense of place. Visitors who want to understand how the city came to look the way it does will find the centre a good starting point.

The story it tells is long. 's-Hertogenbosch, usually shortened to Den Bosch, received city rights in 1185 from Duke Henry I of Brabant and takes its name from the duke's forest, den bosch, around which it grew. It became one of the largest and wealthiest towns of the duchy and, in the fifteenth century, the home of the painter Hieronymus Bosch, who took his name from the city and spent his whole life here. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries it was a Catholic stronghold in the Eighty Years' War, besieged and finally taken in 1629 by the Stadtholder Frederick Henry, and its fortifications were among the most elaborate in the country. Later it became a garrison town, and it grew into the lively provincial capital it is today.

The centre presents this history through a permanent exhibition of objects, documents and architectural models, which follows the development of the city from prehistoric times to the present day. English translations are provided, and guided tours are offered that explain the highlights and sometimes show the depots where the collections are stored. A particular feature is the ArcheoHotspot, where visitors can watch archaeologists at work and take part in simple lab tasks, which makes the visit more active and is popular with children. Opening days, hours and admission arrangements change, so check the website, and group visits generally require a reservation.

The centre is within reach of the main sights of the old town. The Sint-Janskathedraal, St. John's Cathedral, is one of the great Gothic churches of the Netherlands, and the Binnendieze, the network of waterways that runs through and under the old streets, can be explored by boat. The Noordbrabants Museum shows art and history of the province, and Korte Putstraat is a lively street of cafes and pastry shops, including the shop of Jan de Groot, where the famous Bossche bol is sold. The Brabanthallen are the city's exhibition and event centre.

The centre suits history lovers, families and visitors who want to understand the city before exploring it. Allow one to two hours, and combine it with a walk through the old streets.