''' Den Bosch ''' (officially ''''s-Hertogenbosch''') is a city in the south of the Netherlands and the capital of the province of North-Brabant.
Understand
The population of Den Bosch is aprox. 140,000 and with that it is reaching its limits. This because almost all the ground available for building has been used. This does not mean that the whole area is one big city as there are several (big) parks. Likewise, the southern edge of city is totally green as this is a protected natural reserve.
Den Bosch can be seen in 9 regions (''note: these regions are build up of several neighborhoods''):
'''Center''' includes the whole area inside the city walls. Most sights and places to visit can be found in this area.
'''North''' is the area between the city center and the A59, which includes the neighborhoods ''de Rompert'', ''Orthen'', ''Herven'' and the area around the ''Prins Hendrik Park''.
'''Maaspoort''' is the area north of the A59. Mostly a residential area with some industry.
'''Hintham''' is the area around the FC Den Bosch football stadium.
'''South''' is the area between the city center and the A2 highway to the south. Residential, but with also a large amount of office buildings.
'''West''' is the area west of the central station. High presence of industry, as wel as the residential neighborhoods ''Kruiskamp'' and ''Helftheuvel''. The ''Brabanthallen'' can be found here.
'''Engelen''' is the village of ''Engelen'' which is going through the development of ''Haverleij'', a combined residential complex on a golfcourse.
'''Rosmalen''', a town to the east of the A2.
'''Empel''', small village to the north of ''Rosmalen''.
Most visitor attractions are found in the center, except for the footballstadium and the ''Sportiom''.
Get in
By plane
'''Amsterdam Airport Schiphol''' is the largest airport in The Netherlands, and is serviced by almost every airline in the world. It is located near Amsterdam and there is a direct train link from the airport to the station of Den Bosch.
'''Rotterdam Airport''' and '''Eindhoven Airport''' are smaller, regional airports located near their respective cities. Transavia, KLM CityHopper and Ryanair service these airports from various destinations within Europe. Getting from the airport to Den Bosch is possible by public transport, although it necessary to change modes of transport several times. From these airports a car is best option.
By train
Den Bosch has a good location within the railway system of the "[http://www.ns.nl Nederlandse Spoorwegen]" (Dutch Railroads) and almost every city has a direct connection or with a single stopover. Trains depart from Den Bosch main station in city center, which is located at the 'Stationsweg', towards Utrecht-Amsterdam-Haarlem and Utrecht-Schiphol in the north, in the direction of Nijmegen-Arnhem-Zwolle in the east, towards Eindhoven-Maastricht and Tilburg-Breda-Roosendaal in the south.
By car
Although Den Bosch is along major highways, it is not easy to reach Den Bosch because of traffic jams.
The major highway that passes Den Bosch is the A2, generally seen from Amsterdam to Maastricht. This one of the busiest highways of The Netherlands, and the part along Den Bosch, known as "knooppunt Hintham" and "knooppunt Empel" (intersection Hintham and Rosmalen), is in the top 5 of busiest traffic points in The Netherlands.
The other, less busy, highway passing Den Bosch is the A59, comming from Roosendaal (and the A16) towards Nijmegen. This highway is less busy than the A2, although traffic jams might occur when there is a jam on the A2 as the A59 merges into the A2 for a short part.
Nevertheless, if staying outside the peak hours, which are roughly from 7AM-9PM and from 4:30PM-7:30PM, Den Bosch is easily accessible by car.
By bus
The regional buses, operated by the BBA, link Den Bosch with Tilburg and Eindhoven. As these are the regional buses, they do not go directly between these city but stop at several small villages. Therefore, the fastest and advisable way is using the train.
Get around
Everything within the city center is reachable by foot. Everywhere in the city, so also in the suburbs, are sidewalks. In the city center, most areas are pedestrian only, and traffic within the city is restricted.
If you want to go to the suburbs (where there is no reason to, as all interesting places are within the city center), Arriva operates a network of buses throughout the city and towns in the vicinity. All buses arrive and depart from the central station, although for some lines it is along the line. Travelling on these buses is around ?1,20 per zone, and you have to purchase at least 2 zones. You can either pay cash at the driver, or but a 'strippenkaart', a sort of multiple journey card, for this. The last one should only be considered of you intend a lot of traveling, or travel with multiple persons.
The city counsel is trying to get the city center car free, so it is bringing up all kind of measures to deter people from taking the car into the city. Cars can still be parked in the city center, but on Saturdays and Thursday evening these garages are packed. Parking is also available just outside the city center and from there buses are available every 15 minutes for only ?1.
The best means of transportation is, just as in the rest of The Netherlands, by bicycle.
See
Den Bosch is a medieval city and among the oldest cities in the Netherlands. When the Netherlands were still young it was a fortified city that served for the protection of The Netherlands. Especially on the south side of the city, a lot of these fortifications have been saved and over time restored. Start at ''Bastion Vught'' and walk northwards via the ''Parklaan'', ''Spinhuiswal'', ''Zuidwal'' and ''Bastion Oranje'' and ''Hekellaan'' until you reach the bridge over the ''Zuid Willemsvaart''. This way you covert the best part of the old fortifications. In 2004, the city was awarded ''European Fortress of the year''.
The '''Sint Jans Cathedral''' is one of the most prominent landmarks of Den Bosch. Building on the cathedral as we know it right now started in 1380 and is built in Gothic style. Because the exterior of the building is deteriorating fast due to toxic rain they started in 1998 with the restoration of the exterior. It will take years to restore the full church, but the first sections are already finished and can be seen at this moment. This restoration only applies to the exterior.
'''The Moriaan''' is the oldest brick building in The Netherlands, built in the 13th century. It is located on the market square and currently houses the Tourist Center (VVV), and in the basement rockcafe Plein79.
Another place on the market square that is worth a visit is the '''Town Hall'''. It is located on the south side of the square next to the V&D department store. It was built in the 17th century and reflects Dutch ''classicism''.
In the north of the city center, outside the boundaries of the northern fortifications is the '''Citadel'''. This fortress was added to the city later and is not directly included in the fortifications but sort of pasted on. It held the garrison to protect the city or, if necessary, to counter an uprising in the city. It is now part of the national archive.
Opposite the Citadel is the '''Kruithuis''', or powder arsenal. It is an hexagonal building and one of the last in its kind. It is currently used as a museum for art.
As the city center is protected there are still a lot of medieval buildings to be found. Wander around and see the traditional building style.
Do
Learn
Work
Buy
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Nightlife in Den Bosch is as you might expect from a city alike: not as extravagant as Amsterdam or Rotterdam, but nice, with a friendly crowd attending and a nice atmosphere. The places most worth visiting:
De Drie Gezusters. ne of the most popular places in Den Bosch, it has 3 areas: Pub, Apres Ski and Club with different music and appearance. Can't miss it on Friday and Saturday as there will be a line outside.. arrenstraat. pens at 21.00, but the scene starts at around 23.00. Open until 04.00 . ntrance ?4, coatcheck ?1. ttp://www.driegezusters.nl.
Cinq. ormerly known as the ''Cuba Libre'', it turns into a nightlife scene after 23.00. On busy nights hard to get in.. arade. 073) 6900768. ntrance depends on attendance. Busy nights require around ?2 entrance to be paid..
De Carrousel. lace to attracts a crowd of mainly 25+. Is sometimes open slightly longer than the other places.. arrrenstraat. 073) 6900311. tarts at around 10PM until 4AM, sometimes later..
Silva Ducis. ext to Cinq, same attendance.. arade. 073) 6130405. 0AM-4PM. ttp://www.silva-ducis.nl. '
Sleep
Golden Tulip Hotel Central. ocated in the city center, this is one of the best hotels to visit the city if you are willing to pay a little more.
" address="Burg. Loeffplein 98" directions="Go to the Markt (market square) which is easily found from within the city center. Here the hotel will be on the north side, easily recognized as a white building" phone="(+31 73)6926926" email="info@goldentuliphotelcentral.nl" fax="(+31 73) 6145699" checkin="" checkout="" price="around ?140" url="http://www.goldentuliphotelcentral.nl"></sleep>
Movenpick Hotel 's-Hertogenbosch. otel located outside the city center. Easy accessed by car, but has a bad public transport connection to the city center. Walking is an option though, and would take about 20 minutes.
" address="Pettelaarpark 90" directions="Near the highway A2. Take exit 22, where signage will guide you to the hotel." phone="(+31 73) 6874674" email="hotel.s-hertogenbosch@moevenpick.com" fax="(+31 73) 6874635" checkin="3PM" checkout="12PM" price="around ?140" url="http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com/hotels/s_Hertogenbosch/welcome.htm"></sleep>
Best Western Euro Hotel. ocated in the city center. Cheaper hotel, but overal it is in a bad shape. Renovations has been done from Dec. 06 until Mar. 07, so there might be some improvement.. erkstraat 56. ear the St. Jans Cathedral opposite the main post office.. +31 73) 6137777. +31 73) 6128795. 4:00. 1:00. 95. ttp://www.bestwestern.com.
Campanile Hotel 's-Hertogenbosh. heap hotel located in the northern suburb 'Maasport' and adjacent industrial area. oudsbloemvallei 21-25. +31 73) 6422525. enbosch@campanile.com. +31 73) 6410048. 59. ttp://www.campanile.com.
Bark Hotel 's-Hertogenbosch.
Mercure Hotel Rosmalen. ocated outside the city center along the A2 highway. urg. Burgerslaan 50. +31 73) 5219159. 2112@accor.com. +31 73) 5216215. 120. ttp://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/mer/2112/fiche_hotel.shtml.
van der Valk Hotel Vught. arge hotel located in the town of Vught, about 10 minutes by bus to 's-Hertogenbosch.. osscheweg 2. +31 73) 6587777. ught@valk.com. +31 73) 6587700. 80-100. ttp://www.valk.com.
Contact
Den Bosch uses the area code 073. This means that all calls from outside the Den Bosch area have to be predecessed by 073.
Stay safe
Den Bosch is in general a safe city. Even the neighborhoods considered dangerous by the locals are still quite safe during daylight (''Hambaken'', ''Graafsewijk'' and ''Kruiskamp''). If a traveler uses his common sense he will be alright, also during night. The only time the crowd can get a bit rough is during Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. These are the general party nights, so people sometimes drink too much. Nevertheless, there is a lot of police around, and you will be safe if you just take care and mind your own business.
Get out
'''Efteling''', a theme park about half an hour south west of Den Bosch near the town of Kaatsheuvel. Has a nice, fairy tale setting in the forest.