's-Hertogenbosch or Den Bosch, as many know it, is a beautiful city full of historic buildings and medieval architecture. It also happens to be the capital of the province of North Brabant. If you haven’t already been, you need to go! Here are five things you should do on your adventure in Den Bosch.
If you’ve travelled all the way to Den Bosch, there is no doubt you’ll be feeling a little peckish. Not to worry, Den Bosch has some mouth-watering specialities for you to try! Up for something savoury? Try a Brabanste worstenbroodje!
This is no ordinary sausage roll, it’s a white bread roll, about 15cm long in size, filled with a sausage made from mincemeat- often pork or a mix of pork and beef. This creation came about as a way to give meat a longer shelf life by rolling it in dough. Now, this special sausage roll belongs to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list! You’ll find this snack at plenty of bakeries.
For those with a sweet tooth, you absolutely have to try a Bossche bol- trust me, it is dessert heaven! The Bossche bol, sometimes called a chocolate ball, is essentially a huge profiterole. A bit bigger than a tennis ball, it is filled with whipped cream and almost entirely coated with chocolate fondant icing. If you want to taste this treat made according to the authentic recipe, head to bakery Jan de Groot near the central station.
Image: Norio NAKAYAMA
Discover the secrets of the city and take in the beautiful architecture on a guided walking tour. There is no better way to learn about a city than from someone who knows it like the back of their hand. And this is exactly what you’ll get if you go guided.
The tourist information centre organises guided tours on Saturdays at 2.30pm. The tours last 1 hour and 15 minutes and five people need to have signed up for them to go ahead. So, make sure you sign up on time! You’ll find the tourist centre (VVV) at the Markt.
If you fancy discovering the city by yourself, just grab a map and get lost in the tiny streets filled with cute boutiques. In any case, walking around the city and taking in the sights is a must!
For the best view over the city, head on over to St. John’s Cathedral to climb the 43-metre tower! This activity will have you climbing centuries-old stairs, taking a look at points of interest along the way, to be rewarded with a killer view at the top.
You’ll need to buy a ticket before you can venture up the steps and there are only so many places available per time slot, so book in advance. The last climb seems to be at 3pm, so don’t be late. Tickets are six euros for adults and three euros for children aged four to 12.
After you’ve seen the city from above, it’s time to get acquainted with the shops below. Den Bosch is full of cute boutiques. The city may not have all of the chain stores you are familiar with from other Dutch cities, but it makes up for this fourfold with its abundance of boutiques, where you’ll find things that you can’t buy anywhere else! You’ll find many boutiques in the Snellestraat and Vughterstraat, so be on the lookout!
End your visit to Den Bosch with a walking dinner. There are plenty of companies offering walking dinners, so it is best to google and see which dinner package suits you best. Basically, a walking dinner is pretty much what it says on the tin, you eat a course and then walk to your next one. Most walking dinners consist of three courses at three different restaurants.
So, you’ll go to one, have a starter and then walk to the next restaurant on your list and grab your main. This is a great way to see the city without “actively” touring it and a nice way to finish off your day.
If you don't fancy strolling around the city and instead want to do something even more active or indoors- we all know how the Dutch weather can be- why not head on over to Sportiom. There you can visit the tropical swimming pool, go to the ice rink, or a combination of both! Whatever you decide to do, you're sure to have a whale of a time in Den Bosch! Oh, and make sure you check NS Spoordeelwinkel for cheap day trip tickets!
Any other tips? Let us know in the comments!
