Boating adventures under a city and between ramparts

August 17, 2021

Whenever you take a holiday in North Brabant, every day seems like a new holiday. Distances between the loveliest towns, picturesque villages and absolute highlights are not at all great. And wherever you are in North Brabant, the beautiful countryside is always close by.

You can easily combine our historic capital of ’s-Hertogenbosch with the picturesque garrison town of Heusden, which are just 16km apart by bike. Discover the gems of this region and be surprised by the nicest places to eat and stay. If you still haven’t had enough of Northeast Brabant, also take a look at: The hidden secrets of De Maashorst or Travelling through time in Land van Cuijk.

The best way to discover Heusden is by strolling through its picturesque streets. A walk over the ramparts is a must and the many pavement cafes on the famous Vismarkt square invite you for a tasty treat. And for a delicious ice cream - and real Brabant hospitality - you should of course also stop by 't IJshuys. Heusden is a great destination for lovers of art, culture, history and good food and drink.

If you would prefer to discover Heusden from the water, a cruise with Rondvaart Wiljo will make you feel as though you have travelled four centuries back in time. If you are looking for a bit more adventure, hire a SUP board at BOEI35. It’s also the place to be for a drink and snack. You will find Camperplaats Heusden close to BOEI35, where you can spend a lovely night with views of the harbour.

Closer to

a fortified city
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fun on the water
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picturesque streets

The sights are quite remarkable: there’s the imposing St. John's Cathedral on the city’s main square with its many restaurants, the historic buildings and the romantic Binnendieze canal. The city of Master painter Hieronymus Bosch is also extremely versatile. Just outside the historic city centre lies the industrial-chic Tramkade quayside, which provides a great contrast with the medieval character of the city centre.

The capital of Brabant is best discovered from the water with a canal cruise from Rederij Wolthuis. Is biking more your thing? Then hire a bike at Vestingfietsen in Den Dungen (just outside Den Bosch). And don't forget to visit one of the impressive museums, such as Het Noordbrabants Museum, Design Museum Den Bosch or Jheronimus Bosch Art Center.

The Moerputten bridge is a must for amblers. This unique pedestrian bridge is part of the Halvezolenpad trail, which runs from 's-Hertogenbosch via Waalwijk to Lage Zwaluwe.

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To the south of 's-Hertogenbosch you will find the idyllic village of Vught, an ideal place to combine with a visit to the capital of North Brabant. For the largest treetop adventure park in the Benelux don’t look further than De IJzeren Man Vught.

If you are interested in architecture and urban design then you must visit DePetrus, a meeting centre in the former Saint Peter's church. In addition to the Vught Library, DePetrus also houses Vught’s Museum, a fair-trade shop and a readers' café.

Interested in the Second World War? Then a visit to the impressive National Monument Camp Vught is not to be missed. Want to end your day with a bite to eat and a drink? Then head to Maurick Castle (photo), where you can also stay the night. Or visit the nearby town of Helvoirt for a culinary evening at Restaurant 't Lieve Leven.

A day out with children? A little further down the road, in Boxtel, you can dive even further back in time at the Prehistoric Museum Boxtel. Walk among lifelike dinosaurs and extraordinary fossils.

Another gem, a little more to the west of 's-Hertogenbosch, is the Emmamolen in Nieuwkuijk. A beautiful corn mill that is still active which also houses a restaurant and a bakery.

The fairy-tale Heeswijk Castle is located just southwest of ’s-Hertogenbosch. In a wonderful location in the woods near Heeswijk-Dinther, it is highly recommended. Find the secret staircases and corridors in the castle, climb the tower and listen to the exceptional stories about the castle.

Tip: in the wooded surroundings of the stream valley of the River Aa you will find the Heeswijk Castle Nature Gateway, which is also an ideal starting point for a lovely walking or cycling tour.