Tour The Canals By boat

A boat trip on the canals of Den Bosch, the everyday name for the city officially called 's-Hertogenbosch, takes you along the Binnendieze, a network of rivers and canals that runs through and beneath the old centre. The Binnendieze grew out of the small river Dieze, which was channelled and built over as the medieval town expanded. Over the centuries, houses, workshops and streets were built across and beside it, so the waterway now passes through tunnels, under cellars and between the backs of buildings, offering a view of the city that cannot be seen from the street.

The tours use small, low boats with a guide, who explains the history as you glide along. The ride passes beneath bridges and low arches, past medieval walls and the backs of houses, and into narrow channels where the stonework glistens. In some places the water runs under the buildings, and the effect is of travelling through a hidden world. The trip gives a sense of how trade, crafts and daily life depended on the water, and how the city was designed to protect itself with walls and water defences.

Den Bosch is also famous as the home town of the painter Hieronymus Bosch, who was born here in the fifteenth century and spent his life in the city. His fantastic, crowded paintings of heaven, hell and human folly have a modern audience, and the city celebrates him with exhibitions and a centre devoted to his work. The Binnendieze helps to picture the medieval town that he knew, with its dark corners, crowded houses and religious life.

On land, the historic centre rewards a long stroll. St. John's Cathedral, a large Gothic building, dominates the market square, and the Noordbrabants Museum presents art and history from the province. Korte Putstraat is a lively street of shops and cafes, and the city is also known for its local sweet pastry, the Bossche bol, a large chocolate-covered cream puff that tourists are encouraged to try.

The canal tour suits almost everyone, though visitors who are tall or uneasy in confined spaces should note that the boats pass through low sections. Tours run mainly in the warmer months, so check the schedule and book ahead during busy weekends. It makes a good start to a day in the city. Bosch’s presence is felt across the city, and Dutch humour often creeps into the guides' commentary.