Hello from Den Bosch! Where you ask?

Published: Mon, 10/28/19


Den Bosch, Netherlands, formally known as 's-Hertogenbosch, is the provincial capital of North Brabant with a population of just over 150,000. It bustles during the day, is quiet most weeknights and comes more alive on weekend evenings. It is a city with a strong sense of community.

I"ll write about what to do here as a tourist soon but today I want to share a more personal experience in Den Bosch. I am here with my husband for the 75th anniversary celebrations of the city's liberation in 1944. His mother was born here. His father was one of the Canadian troops involved in the liberation. They met and married and Anna Rosa moved to Canada as one of many Dutch war brides. Her father owned a music store and was a composer. We came specifically for an event honoring him at a ceremony and concert on Thursday evening.

But, back to that sense of community. We arrived in the city by train and, en route to our Airbnb, we went along Kerkstraat where his grandfather's store was located. It closed in the early 1980s. We went into a bookshop to ask whether they knew where exactly it was located and there they had postcards promoting a book coming out about his grandfather. The image on the card shows him in front of his store. One of the clerks lit up to tell us that she had bought sheet music there. Two doors down was the actual building that housed the store. It is now a hosiery shop but the owner remembered the music store as well. 

The next day I was staring up at the tourist directional signs when a woman came up to ask if she could help me. We were looking for the river tour that actually goes under the city. She not only answered my question but walked us to the ticket shop. On the way, we spoke about why we were in town as most tourists here are Dutch. She asked for the family name and, wouldn't you know it, my husband's uncle was her dentist. 

We had dinner that night with a travel blogger who lives near by. He explained that, in the south of the Netherlands, life revolves around the family. In Den Bosch, family extends to a strong sense of community as well. We could certainly feel it. This sense of community also helped explain to me why, in the 1930s, Simon's Jewish mother sang with two of her siblings in the city's Saint John (Sint-Janskathedraal) Catholic Cathedral, the largest in the Netherlands. 

Ah, these are the riches that travel offers when they include understanding personal roots.

As for upcoming travels, that's it for this year for both Tracey and me. We'll see what next year has to offer.

One note: if you're still planning for the holiday season, don't miss 45+ Solo Travel Destinations for Christmas and New Year’s.

That's it for now! Happy travels,

Janice

P.S. If you're traveling soon, don't forget...