Saint John

Saint John's Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the Netherlands, and together with Heeswijk Castle, The Markiezenhof and Breda's Grote Kerk, is one of Brabant's four official Top Monuments. Witness the beauty of the medieval sculpture of the Sweet Mother and wonder at the gorgeous sculptured flying buttresses, unmatched anywhere on the globe. A visit to Saint John's, nestled in the heart of the 's-Hertogenbosch city centre, is a must for culture lovers, the perfect addition to a stay in Brabant's capital city.

Marian devotions
In addition to being a National Monument, Saint John's Cathedral, officially christened the Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist, is also a Marian pilgrimage site. The statue of the Sweet Mother was rediscovered in 1380 and safely hidden in Belgium during the Iconoclastic Period, and now attracts pilgrims from across Europe and around the world. The multilingual audio tour ensures that all visitors are able to learn more about this miraculous statue. You can also climb the tower stairs to get an extensive view over the city below. The Wondrous Tour will take you through and around Saint John's in 25 different sections. In the audio tour, you'll learn all about to the Sweet Mother, along with other features like the Chapel of Icons, the 'filthy rich', and the Tree of Jesse.

Cultural history for everyone
The cathedral welcomes around half a million visitors each year. "One of the most beautiful cultural-historic places in the Netherlands," is how one enthusiastic visitor put it. There's also plenty for the kids to do, with events like the Palm Sunday Parade, The Shepherd's Celebration on Christmas Eve, The Arrival of the Three Kings, and the Matthew's Passion for Kids happening on a regular basis. A visit to the cathedral is an extra-special experience on church holidays.

‘'s-Hertogenbosch
You can pair your visit to Saint John's Cathedral with any number of the city's attractions, like a trip down the Binnendieze waterways. Or stop by the Jeroen Bosch Art Centre, which is devoted entirely to 's-Hertogenbosch's most celebrated painter. Bosch was a member of the Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Blessed Lady, whose members were known as 'Zwanenbroeders'. In 2016, Saint John's also played to host an elaborate celebration commemorating 's-Hertogenbosch's 500th anniversary.

Click here to take a 360 tour.