Showing posts with label 's-Hertogenbosch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 's-Hertogenbosch. Show all posts

What's in 'S-Hertogenbosch

Tuesday, December 03, 2013

While in Belgium, I took a day detour to a city in the Netherlands called 'S-Hertogenbosch.



I went there on a curious whim; I love the name (which can be shortened to Den Bosch) and wanted to see what was there (just like my trips to Andorra, Gibraltar, Monaco and San Marino).

So what did I see there?

A huge cathedral, towering outside and in. The interior was particularly light, impressive and I felt it was unique.





Some delightful old shop fronts have been saved and re-purposed.




As it's in the Netherlands, there are lots of lovely canals. Some of the canals in 'S-Hertogenbosch go underground - it's possible to take tours of these (just not in November!).



A Golden Dragon



There are lots of brick buildings in Den Bosch, including the oldest brick building in the Netherlands.



Perhaps the city's greatest claim to fame is as the home of 15th century artist Hieronymus Bosch.



An art centre in the town shows copies of his many paintings: filled with chaotic, overwhelmingly detailed scenes from the Bible, and full of surreal, weird, wonderful and fantastical characters. Though I quite like the idea that Hieronymus the man was very plain, kind of dull - but when he painted, his imagination went wild.

His paintings are a joy to pore over. I took my favourites and put them in a collage.




High up in the Low Lands

Monday, November 18, 2013

I've recently paid a visit to three cities in Belgium (as well as a day-trip to the Netherlands).

My first instinct when arriving in a new town or city is to try to see it from above.

So in Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and 's-Hertogenbosch, I ascended the combined 274 metres in two bell towers, one cathedral turned to an art centre and a museum to see these pretty towns laid out before me.

Bruges from the Belfry




Ghent from the Belfry




Antwerp from Museum Aan de Stroom




's-Hertogenbosch from the Hieronymus Bosch Art Centre