Themed walk: On our way to eleven! From Oeteldonk Centraol to Het Noordbrabants Museum in 1 hour and 11 minutes from € 11.11
Book now!
Themed walk: On our way to eleven! From Oeteldonk Centraol to Het Noordbrabants Museum in 1 hour and 11 minutes from € 11.11
Book now!
Thick city walls, hidden bastions, and a clever water system. The fortifications of Den Bosch tell the story of a city that successfully defended itself for centuries. When you walk through ’s-Hertogenbosch, you are walking through this history. Discover how the city grew into one of the strongest fortified cities in all of Europe.
Den Bosch has been a fortified city since its founding around 1185. The city wall protected the inhabitants against the enemy, but also against the ever-present water. Throughout the centuries, the defensive works grew into an impressive belt of walls, gates, and bastions with a circumference of approximately 6.5 kilometres. This dual function—defence against the enemy and the water—makes the Bossche fortifications very special in the Netherlands.
The Den Bosch fortress was put to the test during the siege of 1629. After a months-long siege and the use of clever military techniques, army commander Frederik Hendrik succeeded in capturing the city. It is one of the most defining events in the history of Den Bosch. And it is an event that (if you look closely) you can still find in many places throughout the city.
Den Bosch owes its nickname ‘Moerasdraak’ (Swamp Dragon) to the marshes that surrounded the city. By deliberately flooding the surrounding land when threatened, the area was transformed into an impassable swamp. This kept enemies at a distance, making the city impregnable for a long time. At the time, Het Bossche Broek was an open field of fire and an inundation area. Today, it is a beautiful nature reserve on the edge of the city where you can still see that history.
Unlike in many other cities, the Bossche fortifications were never fully demolished, largely because the walls held back the water. Following high water levels in 1995, the large-scale ‘Versterkt Den Bosch’ plan was launched, which restored the fortress to its former glory. Walking paths, parks, and special city entrances were created. Partly because of this, Den Bosch was named Fortified City of Europe in 2005.
The best way to properly discover the fortifications? On foot and by water under the guidance of an expert guide. During the fortress walk, you will relive the struggle against enemy and water. On this fortress route, the guide takes you to the old city walls and tells you about bows and arrows, cannons, and clever water defences. A visit to the Bastionder, featuring the impressive medieval cannon De Boze Griet, makes the past truly tangible.
From the water, you discover the fortifications from a different perspective that cannot be reached on foot. During the Vesting Vaartocht, you sail under the city from 1 April to 31 October along the impressive walls and canals of Den Bosch. You will moor at the Bastionder and sail through the mysterious Hellegat. During the trip, a guide will tell you everything about the history of the fortifications.
You can read more about this history at the top of this page. In short: ’s-Hertogenbosch has been a fortified city since its founding around 1185. City walls protected the inhabitants against enemies and against the water. Over the centuries, the fortress grew into a belt of approximately 6.5 kilometres.
Activities and experiences are regularly organised around the fortifications, such as guided walking routes and boat tours. Keep an eye on our website or contact the reservations office for the current range of activities.
The fortifications in Den Bosch have been largely preserved, mainly because the city walls held back the water. The historical view of the fortress is still clearly visible, especially on the side of Het Bossche Broek.
You can book a fortress walk for groups of up to 15 people, and potentially combine it with a boat tour, for example. You can easily request a group package using the online form.
The walk starts at the counter at Parade 12, in the centre of ’s-Hertogenbosch. The exact departure point and start time will be coordinated during your booking.
The fortress walk takes approximately two hours. During that time, a guide will take you along the most important walls and bastions and tell you the stories behind the fortifications.
Besides walking, that is the best way to discover the fortifications. During a boat tour on the Binnendieze and the Vesting Vaartocht, you view the fortifications from a very special side, both in the open air and underneath the city.
The Bastionder is a largely underground bastion located at Bastion Oranje. You can discover the history of the fortified city there via a short film and the impressive medieval cannon De Boze Griet.
Den Bosch owes this nickname to the marshes surrounding it. By flooding the land when threatened, the city became virtually impregnable to enemies.
Get inspired by the best local tips and personal stories about Den Bosch. Discover hidden gems, read about other visitors’ experiences, and get handy advice to make your day out even more special.
