Brabant was a prosperous country in the Middle Ages. The Duke of Brabant had his palace in the capital, Brussels. NorthBrabant still possesses four top monuments from that time: the most beautiful cathedral in the Netherlands, a medieval city palace, a noble castle and a church with a royal history.
Dive into the history of NorthernBrabant and support the top monuments that take you back centuries to a rich history full of wonderful stories. In this way, we preserve the rich past of Brabant and the legends and stories continue to live on from generation to generation.
St. John's Cathedral, 's-Hertogenbosch
The largest cathedral in our country, decorated with grand stained glass windows and more than 600 statues. The history of the St. John's takes you back to 1370. Did you know that this church is officially called the Cathedral Basilica Saint John Evangelist? From its construction around 1220, there have been daily religious celebrations. The statue of Mary "The Sweet Mother" has attracted pilgrims for centuries. As with any cathedral, there has been constant construction and expansion. When Den Bosch came into the hands of the Dutch Republic in 1629, St. John's became Protestant. In 1810, Napoleon returned the church to the Catholics and appointed a bishop. St. John's became a cathedral and with restorations regained its former splendor. In the centuries that followed, much restoration was also done to ensure that the cathedral was preserved in all its splendor for future generations. The pride of all Bosschen citizens and everyone beyond is well worth visiting and supporting.
The Great Church of Breda
The pride of Breda with a majestic tower that rises nearly one hundred meters above the city center. One of the most extraordinary churches in the Netherlands with an eventful history that goes back 750 years and has a direct line to our royal house. The Nassaus, ancestors of our Royal House, gave the 15e-centurychurch its grandeur. They were the innovators of their time; the Grote Kerk Breda continues that line with its contemporary programming. The monument is important for history, but also for anyone looking for a moment of inspiration. In collaboration with a broad network of partners, the Grote Kerk Breda develops innovative programming that connects the centuries-old stories of the church and the city to the future and current events. This makes the Grote Kerk Breda a place where different generations come together. This Top Monument features endless special details and has a unique collection. For example, grave monuments of the Nassau, the vault paintings made by Tommaso di Vincidor, various murals and a triptych by Van Scorel. Will you support the survival of this extraordinary monument?
Castle Heeswijk, Heeswijk-Dinther
The castle of Brabant where almost a thousand years of history comes to life. A jewel of a castle, surrounded by beautiful domains around the stream valley of the Aa, near Den Bosch. The oldest top monument of Brabant was built around 1080 as a defense tower. Each century it was further expanded and gained towers, castle walls, cellars, halls and outbuildings. The castle witnessed many battles, including its role as headquarters of the French King during the attempt to conquer the Netherlands in 1672, after which it fell into disrepair. Restoration by Baron Van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge in 1835 brought the castle back to its grandeur with a rich collection of art and antiques. After the last baroness, the castle opened as a museum in 2005. Inside, a special world awaits you with one castle room even more impressive than another. The halls, corridors, rooms, cellars and towers invite you to an enchanting journey of discovery through its rich history. We cherish this eventful history and hope for your support.
Het Markiezenhof, Bergen op Zoom
This national monument is the oldest city palace in the Netherlands and was built in late Gothic style in 1485. A striking building, where once the high lords and marquises of Bergen op Zoom resided. Jan van Glymes II and III, father and son and both lords of Bergen op Zoom, commissioned it. The Van Glymes family had come to be held in high esteem at the end of the fifteenth century and this status was reflected in the palatial character of the Markiezenhof.
The Markiezenhof is one of the most beautiful city palaces in all of Western Europe. Around 1500, the lord of Bergen op Zoom had his own palace built to receive important guests. In 1533, he received the title of marquis, making the palace known as the Markiezenhof. Generations of marquises held important administrative positions, but in 1795 the Netherlands became a democracy and the nobility lost power.
Over the centuries, the Markiezenhof has had several functions, such as residence, administrative center and barracks, each of which has left its mark. Today the city palace is a sought-after wedding location and museum with special collections in which stories and secrets take center stage. As a visitor here you can still really taste the grandeur of the Renaissance, the times after and is inextricably linked to the DNA of the city of Berg. Of course we would like to keep it that way - preferably with your support.
Keep our Top Monuments Top of mind and take action for now, and generations to come. Your donation is desperately needed and donate can be made as little as €10,-. Contribute today to the preservation of our Top Monuments of Brabant, so that the rich history full of wonderful stories will not be lost!
