St. Jan's Cathedral - 's-Hertogenbosch

St. Jan's Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the Netherlands and, together with Heeswijk Castle, the Markiezenhof and the Grote Kerk in Breda, is one of the four official Top Monuments of Brabant. Located in the heart of 's-Hertogenbosch, this Gothic church is an impressive sight. Visitors can admire the medieval statue of the Sweet Mother and the unique flying buttress statues, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world in this form. A visit to St. Jan's Cathedral is an absolute must for lovers of culture and history, and can be perfectly combined with a stay in the capital of Brabant.

The cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Evangelist, is not only a national monument but also an important place of Marian devotion. The statue of the Sweet Mother, which was rediscovered in 1380 and safely brought to Belgium during the Iconoclastic Fury, continues to attract pilgrims from all over the world to this day. Thanks to an audio tour in several languages, visitors can learn more about this special statue. Those who want to see more can climb the tower for a beautiful view of the city. The Wonderlijke Tour (Wonderful Tour) takes you through 25 short chapters of stories in and around the church, including those of the Icon Chapel, the “rich stinkers” and the tree of Jesse.

Every year, St. Jan's attracts around half a million visitors. ‘One of the most beautiful cultural and historical sites in the Netherlands,’ according to an enthusiastic previous visitor. Children are also catered for, with special celebrations and events such as the Palm Sunday procession, the Shepherds' Celebration on Christmas morning, the Epiphany procession and the children's version of the St. Matthew Passion. A visit to this special cathedral takes on extra meaning during church holidays in particular.

Listen to the audio clip for Vincent van Gogh's thoughts on the Christian religion.

Photos: ©Brabant Partners