Het Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch

Het Noordbrabants Museum is housed in the Gouvernement on the Verwersstraat, a city palace from 1768 in 's-Hertogenbosch, better known as Den Bosch. Behind the stately front you find the art and history of the province of North Brabant. You see work that Vincent van Gogh made in Brabant, paintings from the circle of Hieronymus Bosch and flower still lifes by the Van Spaendonck brothers. Jan Sluijters and artists of today have a place here too. Behind the palace lies a garden with a large copper beech.

What you see at Het Noordbrabants Museum

The collection is all about Brabant. The museum shows work by Vincent van Gogh from his time in Nuenen, partly its own and partly on loan, and in 2020 it bought his Head of a Woman. There is nothing by Hieronymus Bosch himself, but you do see paintings by his followers and artists from his circle. Add paintings and etchings by the Brueghel family, work by David Teniers the Younger and flower still lifes by the Van Spaendoncks. Jan Sluijters and Mark Manders show how art from Brabant developed later. For more Van Gogh, travel on to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

A palace with a garden

The Gouvernement was built in 1768 and 1769 to a design by Pieter de Swart, as the residence of the military governor. The 18th century palace rooms can still be seen. Het Noordbrabants Museum is older than its building: it grew out of a provincial society from 1836 and opened in 1925 as the Centraal Noord Brabantsch Museum. It moved to the Gouvernement later and reopened in 2013 after a major renovation, together with the new Design Museum next door. The palace garden with its copper beech is a green spot in the middle of the old town.

Planning your visit to Het Noordbrabants Museum

The museum is in the city centre, roughly a ten minute walk from Central Station: follow the signs for the Markt. You can also take bus 11 to the Zuidwal/Spinhuiswal stop and walk about five minutes. The Museumkaart, the Dutch annual museum pass, is valid here; bring it, because it is scanned at the entrance. Children under 18 get in free. During some busy exhibitions a ticket with a time slot is mandatory, so check the website before you go. Lifts make every room accessible and you can borrow a wheelchair.

Combining Het Noordbrabants Museum with the Design Museum

Right next door is Design Museum Den Bosch, linked to the museum by a corridor. With a combi ticket you visit both museums on the same day, which is an easy way to see old masters and modern design in one go. You cannot eat or drink in the galleries, but you can have a snack or drink in the museum restaurant. For other places to visit in the city, see our overview of museums in Den Bosch.

Frequently asked questions about Het Noordbrabants Museum

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