A weekend in Den Bosch

To keep giving our readers new and fun tips for great outings in the Netherlands, we regularly go out ourselves. This time Ester and Katia visited Den Bosch together. Here they went in search of cultural highlights, fun activities, cozy terraces and restaurants and of course the best places to store. Read here what discoveries they made during their weekend getaway in Den Bosch.

A rainy start

We arrived in Den Bosch early on Friday morning. The hotel where we were staying was only a 10-minute walk from the center and we had arranged to park our car in their garage. Unfortunately, our visit began rainy. I had already done quite a bit of preliminary research on the Internet to find out what there was to see in Den Bosch, and with the help of Google maps, I put together an extensive walking route that led me throughout the center to fun locations and sights.

Cultural sights

The industrial part of downtown

The walking tour started at the Tramkade. This is the industrial part of the center where the river De Dieze turns into the Binnendieze. On the quay you will find The Mixing Factory. This old cattle feed factory was transformed into a true hotspot in 2015. Not only creative entrepreneurs are located here with their workplace because you will also find several catering establishments, a skate center, arcade and you can even play sports and dance. In addition, several festivities are organized throughout the year.

Next to De Mengfabriek you will find the Verkade Factory. This old cookie factory is now a Theater, cinema and café-restaurant all in one.

The historic center

That Den Bosch has a beautiful historic center is probably known to most readers. But did you know that one of the oldest brick buildings in the Netherlands can be found here? De Moriaan, as the building is called, can be found on the Markt and currently houses the local city marketing department.

The Markt alone is a sight to behold. Upon arrival, the local market was still in full swing and reasonably busy despite the rain. The adjacent terraces were also pleasantly full of people enjoying a cup of coffee and a Bossche bol.

The Kerstraat connects the Markt with the Parade, the other large square in Den Bosch. Here the St. John’s Cathedral, which can be seen from afar, proudly rises above the historic center. By the way, this is the largest cathedral in the Netherlands and is really impressive to see. It is also well worth walking inside and feeling the atmosphere of the Sweet Mother, who is venerated in this church.

A little further on you will find the Hieronymus Bosch Art Center in the former church of St. James. In this art museum you will find everything about the Bossche artist Hieronymus Bosch. But you will also find his art on the banks of the Binnendieze. If you pay attention you will see on the Jheronimus Bosch navigational route on the Binnendieze several sculptures that appear in his paintings and for the most part in the painting “The Garden of Pleasures.”

Citytours ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Would you like to know more about the various sights of Den Bosch and especially discover the story behind these historical places? Then book a guided tour at Citytours ‘s-Hertogenbosch. In his 1975 Volkswagen van, guide Ton leads you around the center of Den Bosch and tells you everything you want to know. Although he drives a number of fixed routes, no tour is the same. Ton moved to Den Bosch for love 40 years ago and fell in love not only with his wife, but also with the city.

Ton is full of stories about Den Bosch and its history. How did that Angel with cell phone end up on St. John’s. Why does Den Bosch have the same Prince Carnival every year? Via a special shortcut you will see the impressive monumental station roofs built in 1894 by architect G.W. van Heukelom. After the tour you will also know what a cuckoo is. You will get to places in Den Bosch where you would not immediately come yourself and where you will hear surprising stories. You can book a tour both in the morning and in the afternoon. If you also want to hear the history of the Bossche Bol, book the tour including a real Bossche Bol, definitely recommended.

Explore the center by boat

Another special way to explore the center of Den Bosch is by sloop. This is because Den Bosch has an ancient system of watercourses, which were then built over. As a result, you can sail through the entire city center by boat via these waterways while alternating between the canal and under the buildings. There are several sailing routes available that you can do under the guidance of a skipper guide who will tell you all about the history and restoration of the city.

Poké Perfect

We interrupted our walk on Friars Minor Street at Poké Perfect. We had already completed a nice morning walk and felt we deserved something tasty. Poké Perfect is a small, cozy restaurant that makes the most delicious poké bowls. Poké Perfect is run by owner Kristel and her enthusiastic team. We were welcomed hospitably and given a brief explanation of the concept. Namely, you can order a poké bowl from the menu here, but also choose a build-your-own poké bowl. We both took a Spicy Sriracha Tuna, but each with a different topping. And topped with a serving of Gyoza and Yakatori skewers. Delicious!

The shopping area of Den Bosch

After lunch it was time to explore the shopping area. The shopping area of Den Bosch is spread over several shopping streets. The Hinthamerstraat is the largest of these which turns into the Markt. But also in the Markstraat, the Vughterstraat, Krullartstraat and the side streets in between you will find all kinds of nice stores and boutiques. For example, look for a new outfit at Sympony Mode, Ibiza Fashion, Bomont, ART or the Cotton Club. Do you prefer the better-known stores such as OPEN32, Anna van Toor, Zara and Vanilia? These can also be found in Den Bosch.

For fun accessories you can go to Karakter, My Jewellery, Gasseltje Sieraden or Conceal. You can score original gifts at De Familiefabriek, OAK, AAF, Hout-doe, San’s or Twinkels.

Looking for something special to go with drinks? There are several delis to be found in the city center. For example, Mira Luna, Boergondisch Streekproducten, TwisTea, Ravesteijn and Jack’s Delicatessenhuis.

In short, there is a nice store in Den Bosch for everything you are looking for. So wander around the streets and alleys and discover the nice offerings.

Eating out in Den Bosch

That they are gourmands in Den Bosch is common knowledge. Not for nothing is the Bossche bol the cake specialty of Den Bosch. But the people of Den Bosch also love conviviality. And that can be found on every terrace and in every restaurant. On squares such as the Market and the Parade, you will find various brasseries where you can sit down for a cup of coffee and a pastry, but also have a drink or a meal. After our search through the wide range of stores we ended up at Café In De Kleine Werelt where we started the weekend with a glass of wine and some bitterballen. Also in the alleys you can find several small terraces where people socialize.

Beforehand, I had already started looking for a nice restaurant for dinner. This was difficult because the selection is very large and varied. I came across tapas restaurants like Barzza and Carras, street food bar Hello my Friend, Italian restaurant Onesto, Argentinian restaurant Rancho Bravo and fine dining restaurant LOFF.

But I also discovered some very special concepts. How about a restaurant called Secret Bar & Kitchen? This makes you curious. And did you know that Den Bosch has a restaurant that is all about chicken?

The Kakel Club

The (yes…) Kakelclub is located on the Citadellaan on the edge of the center and is run by Tim, Sander and Jeroen. During our visit to Den Bosch, I paid Jeroen a visit and asked him about their special concept. He told me that the idea of the Kakel Club came about three years ago after another chicken joint announced it was quitting. They liked the idea and were convinced they could take this concept further to hype. And they succeeded, because within a year and a half they had already grown out of their first location and moved into the restaurant on Citadel Avenue. They prepare homemade chicken dishes such as Korean Fried Chicken, Chicken Curry, Poké Bowl, Pulled Peking Chicken loaded fries, Truffle Parmesean Sandwich and much more. So really delicious comfort food. And they even have vegetarian options. Not only can you eat at De Kakel Club, but you can also pick up or have it delivered.

Den Bosch by night

We had reserved a table for dinner at Her name is Lola. A trendy shared dining restaurant in the Kerkstraat. We could choose a place next to the bar area or in the conservatory. Since we wanted to sit a little quieter we chose the conservatory. There we enjoyed delicious dishes such as Tuna Tataki, Sticky Shrimps, Bao Buns and Tostada Ceviche.

After dinner we took an evening walk through the center. Then you can totally see how atmospheric Den Bosch is. We were lucky with the weather, because the temperature was still pleasant and therefore all the terraces were pleasantly full. People were eating, drinking and chatting away. So nice to taste that atmosphere. Especially through the illuminated facades of the beautiful historic buildings that Den Bosch is rich.

We walked back to our hotel to get ready for the night, with another cup of tea.

Green in the city

The next morning, after a delicious full breakfast at the convent hotel, we wanted to take a final walk. Right behind the hotel is the Prince Henry Park, which surrounds the pond De IJzeren Vrouw. The weather was radiant so we walked around the pond. And we certainly weren’t the only ones. Hikers, fishermen, runners, dog owners and even boot camp clubs had been drawn to this park. And all just a 10-minute walk from downtown.

We enjoyed our stay in Den Bosch and would love to come back here again soon!

Credits photos: OpstapmetLisa and participating partners