St. John's Cathedral

Sint-Janskathedraal, St. John's Cathedral, towers over the centre of 's-Hertogenbosch, the capital of Noord-Brabant, and it is widely regarded as the finest Gothic church in the Netherlands. Its building history stretches from the thirteenth century into the early sixteenth, and the result is a large, richly decorated church in the Brabantine Gothic style, with a long nave, a tall tower and a mass of carved stone on the outside. Its full name is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist, and it is a landmark for the whole region.

The exterior is the first surprise. Flying buttresses carry the weight of the vaults, and in this church they are decorated with an extraordinary number of sculptures, including saints, animals, and strange figures from medieval imagination. The sheer quantity and variety of carved figures give the walls an almost lace-like richness, and a walk around the building shows something new at every turn. The resemblance to the fantastic creatures in the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, who lived in the town, is often remarked upon, and he was active in a religious brotherhood connected with the church.

Inside, the nave is high and light, with slender columns and large windows. Among the most treasured objects is a medieval wooden statue of the Virgin, known in Dutch as the Zoete Lieve Vrouw, the Sweet Lady, a focus of pilgrimage for centuries. The cathedral also holds a notable organ, chapels with carved altars and stained glass of different periods, much of it added in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. After the Reformation the church was held by Protestants for a long period, and it returned to Catholic use in the early nineteenth century.

Visitors can usually enter the interior outside services, and guided or audio tours explain the art and history. When the tower is open, the climb gives a view over the roofs of the old town and the surrounding landscape. Check current visiting times, because services, concerts and special events can limit access.

The cathedral sits near the Markt, the Binnendieze canal system and the Noordbrabants Museum, so it fits naturally into a day exploring the city. It suits architecture and art lovers, history fans and anyone interested in medieval religious life. Allow an hour for the interior and more if you climb the tower or take a boat trip along the Binnendieze.