The Vughterstraat with its Antwerp gate

Stop here for a moment.

First of all, it is worth mentioning that the triangular Bossche Market, which is now on your left, actually has three access roads, the names of which can be traced back to the villages to which those streets lead. Thus the Vughterstraat that goes to Vught.  Later in the route you will walk through Hinthamerstraat which leads to the village of Hintham, a former village that is now completely absorbed by the city.  The Orthenstraat led to Orthen, a hamlet that has been inhabited since Roman times, according to excavations.

At the point where you are now, the first entrance gate stood around the early years of the city of Den Bosch. This was called the Antwerp gate, because the city of Antwerp was obliged by the Duke of Brabant to contribute to the construction of the first fortification of Den Bosch. In front of that gate, with the city walls on both sides, the Binnendieze flowed like a city moat. This passed under a wooden bridge, in front of the gate. The rest of the road to Vught was narrow and mainly low, so it often flooded. This happened regularly and it was not until 1880 that this problem was solved.

The Vughterstraat as it is here today actually only came into existence during the first expansion of the city in the years between 1250 and 1352. A new Vughterpoort was also built to replace it, which was a bit further down the street. Remains of it were excavated in 1970 during sewerage work.

If you are interested in beautiful facades, it is definitely worth turning right here and walking up and down a part of this street. If you do, you might hear Sir Ian McKellen telling you that you’re lost. Don’t worry about that.

The route continues straight ahead here into the street with the beautiful name; ‘Achter het Verguld Harnas’ which means as much as; ‘Behind the Gilded Harness’

Please cross the Vughterstraat carefully.