THE NETHERLANDS : DEN BOSCH ('s Hertogenbosch)
The Dutch usually refer to this city as 'Den
Bosch' (pronounced "Den Boss"). However, the official name of the
capital of the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant (Northern Brabant), is : 's-Hertogenbosch.
The full name literally means 'the
Duke's woods'.
That duke was Henry I of Brabant. The town grew up on the site of a
12th century hunting lodge owned by the Duke. It was the same Duke
who gave 's-Hertogenbosch its city rights and all associated trading
privileges in 1185.
One of the most famous inhabitants of this city is
Hieronymus Bosch,
the 15th century painter, famous for his surrealistic scenes. His
statue stands on the market square of 's Hertogenbosch.
Den Bosch counts numerous
interesting historic buildings and museums.
The beautiful "Noordbrabants Museum" shows art from the Southern
Netherlands from 1500 until now. Much of the original medieval
structure of the city within the city walls is still intact today.
The most eye-catching structure is, of course, the magnificent
late-gothic St John's Cathedral
('Sint
Janskathedraal'), the city hall in classical style and the oldest brick
house, 'De Moriaan', remind us of days long past, as do the many narrow,
winding streets, weaving their way through this part of the city, lined
with warehouses and merchants' dwellings.
The city agglomeration of 's-Hertogenbosch now
consists, apart from the city itself, of Rosmalen, Bokhoven, Empel and
Engelen. Today, as evidenced by many new buildings, the restoration of
historic buildings and the varied nightlife, the city is a bustling and
lively place.
History of 's Hertogenbosch
In 1185, Duke Hendrik I (Henry I) of Brabant gave city rights to this
little settlement at the site of his hunting lodge, in the middle of the
woods of northern Brabant. Together with the city rights came an array
of trade advantages. This decision was influenced by the fact that
Hendrik I needed a stronghold in the northern part of his duchy, to
protect his land against attacks coming from Gelre or Holland.
To keep foreign armies and looters out, many cities at that time were
surrounded by city walls. At a later stage, they were encircled by earth
ramparts and bastions. The remains of much of these ramparts and
bastions can still be seen in 's-Hertogenbosch today. The city of
's-Hertogenbosch is a member of the Dutch Fortified Cities Association,
an organisation through which fortified cities in the Netherlands
promote their common cultural and historical heritage.
The oldest part of 's-Hertogenbosch, right at its heart, is the
triangular market square. The earliest walls used to surround this
square. From these walls, the inhabitants of the city, called
'Bosschenaren', defended their homes, and for a long time the city was
renowned as an invincible stronghold. Because the city was also
surrounded by wetlands, the delta area of the small rivers the Aa and
the Dommel, the city soon gained the heroic nickname 'The Invincible
Dragon of the Marshes'.
's Hertogenbosch continued to thrive until the middle of the 16th
century. The city remained under Spanish domination much longer than
most of the present Dutch cities. It was only in 1629 when prince
Frederik-Hendrik (brother of William of Orange, the Taciturn) took Den
Bosch and annexed it to the Republic of the United Provinces. In 1794
the city was captured by the French, who where later chased by the
Prussians in 1814, after the fall of Napoleon.
When finally, the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was proclaimed in
1815, 's Hertogenbosch became the capital of the province of Northern
Brabant.