My city

This is the city I live in, Den Bosch. Officialy it is called 's-Hertogenbosch. We say and often write Den Bosch, but unlike 's-Gravenhage which also can be called The Hague of Den Haag, 's-Hertogenbosch may officially not been spelled as Den Bosch. Why 's-Hertogenbosch? The name comes from the Hertog of Brabant, or Duke as the English call it, who founded 's-Hertogenbosch. This Hertog of Brabant, Godfrey III, founded 's-Hertogenbosch in 1184. It immedately was given city rights, so it is one of the oldest city's in this country. My city is still connected with Brabant, it is the capital of our province Noord-Brabant.

Their are many old things to see in the city nowdays. The rampart (city wall) dates from 1225 and is still visable. Also there is the river Binnen Dieze, where the greater part of the water is under the city.

Many tourists take the Binnen Dieze tourist vessel, one of the highlights of the city. Another must see is the Sint Jan, perhaps the most famous and one of the biggest churches of The Netherlands which dates from 1529, and it is by day almost always open for visitors. 

In the middle ages it was the biggest city of Noord-Brabant. About 1900 it was so overcrowded, that it had the most child mortality in the Netherlands. Other city's rised up. Today, also through mergers (annexed villages in the area), Eindhoven and Breda are bigger than 's-Hertogenbosch.

I live in the north of 's-Hertogenbosch, de Maaspoort, where there is not much to see, it really is a good living area, but in the heart of the city is the sparkling life.

We also are a sports town. Our basketball team Eiffel Towers are 14 times champions, the ice hockey team Red Eagles 1 time, our hockey team (ladies) are now 11 times in a row champions of Holland. Also the rugby team The Dukes are now champion of Holland. Our football team FC Den Bosch were champions in 1948 and is playing in the second division now. Now famous Ruud van Nistelrooy comes from our football club. I visit almost every home game on friday evening.

A walking tour through the city is easy to arrange, there are professionals who can take you in the city, but you can take city bikes, steps or even a Solex as well. I took the pictures in the heart of the city myself. Starting on Station 's-Hertogenbosch, the train station.

About 10 years ago the Station was very old, but now the front is new, but many people think it now has a cold impression. Walking to the Stationsweg you can see our famous dragon in front of the Station. Also in the Stationsweg is the one and only bakery De Groot, overcrowded with tourists because of our famous Bossch Bollen (chocolate globes filled with sugared whipped cream). Walking through the Stationsweg you meet the Visstraat and the bridge over the Binnenhaven and Brede Haven. Than you can arrive to the heart of the city in de Orthenstraat and Hoge Steenweg and see the Van Lanschot bank, which is the oldest bank of The Netherlands since 1737. They are siuated in De Gulden Hopsack, build in 1619. What some Americans don't know is that Multinionals and Stocks (aandelen) are a Dutch invention. When we were a trading nation the Dutch decided the make the VOC a multinional and invented Stocks to take it to America. In America they could buy a bit of the VOC by stock, which was could be bought on the Walstraat in Nieuw Amsterdam. This Walstraat in Nieuw Amsterdam still excist, only now we call it Wallstreet in New York.

Walking right through to Hoge Steenweg is the big market place. Also ideal for festivals as Jazz in Duketown and the Boulevard festival. On the other side of the market is the Kerkstraat for a walk to the Sint Jan, easy visable because of the high towers. If you meet the church, the best photo is taken on the right of the Parade. On the Parade are a few bars and cafés, very crowded on every friday and saterday.

Walking back to the south in the Lange Putstraat, also the Korte Putstraat is visable. This street is the main street for eating. Many small and coosey restaurants are here. I walk to the Verwerstraat were the Noord Brabant museum is. Also much visited by many tourists. Nice streets are visable walking back to the shopping centre by the Wolvenhoek, Achter het Wild Varken, de Snelle Straat en de Kruisstraat. By the Sint Jansstraat, famous for the pubs, my little tour ends. Time for shopping, or after that going back to the Station or hotel. I left some hotel reviews for the visitors of my town.