Top Monuments
Brabant was a prosperous region in the Middle Ages. North Brabant still boasts four Top Monuments from that period: the most beautiful cathedral in the Netherlands, a medieval city palace, a noble castle and a church with a royal history.
Delve into the history of North Brabant and support the Top Monuments that take you back centuries to a rich history full of wonderful stories. In this way, we preserve Brabant's eventful past and its legends and stories will live on from generation to generation.
Markiezenhof
This national monument is the oldest city palace in the Netherlands and was built in the late Gothic style in 1485. The Markiezenhof is one of the most beautiful city palaces in Western Europe. Around 1500, the lord of Bergen op Zoom, Jan van Glymes II, had a palace built to receive his important guests. In 1533 he received the title of marquis, whereby the palace became known as the Markiezenhof. Over the centuries, the Markiezenhof has had various functions – it has been a residence, administrative centre and barracks, among other things – each of which has left its mark. Nowadays, the city palace is a museum with special collections that focus on stories and secrets. As a visitor, you can still truly experience the grandeur of the Renaissance here.
St John's (Sint Jan)
St John's is the largest cathedral in the Netherlands, decorated with beautiful stained-glass windows and more than 600 sculptures. The history of St John's takes you back to 1370. Since its construction around 1220, there have been daily religious celebrations. The statue of Mary 'Our Dear Lady' has attracted pilgrims for centuries. As with any cathedral, there has always been construction and expansion. When Den Bosch fell to 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 regained its former glory through restoration work. In the centuries that followed, many restorations were also carried out to ensure that the cathedral was preserved in all its splendour for future generations.
Heeswijk Castle
The finest castle in Brabant where almost a thousand years of history come to life. A gem of a castle, surrounded by beautiful grounds around the stream valley of the Aa, near Den Bosch. The oldest Top Monument of Brabant was built around 1080 as a defensive tower. In each century, it was further expanded and gained towers, castle walls, cellars, halls and outbuildings. The castle witnessed many battles, including in 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 former magnificence with a lavish collection of art and antiques. After the last baroness, the castle opened as a museum in 2005. Inside, an extraordinary world awaits you with each castle room more impressive than the last. The halls, corridors, rooms, cellars and towers invite you on an enchanting journey of discovery through its rich history.
Grote Kerk Breda
The pride of Breda with a majestic tower rising almost a hundred metres above the city centre. 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 family. The Nassaus, ancestors of the Dutch royal family, gave the 15th-century church its grandeur. They were the innovators of their time; the Grote Kerk Breda continues in that line with its contemporary programming. The monument is important for history, but also for anyone looking for a moment of inspiration. This makes the Grote Kerk Breda a place where different generations come together. This national monument has a unique collection with, for instance, tomb monuments of the Nassaus, vault paintings made by Tommaso di Vincidor, several murals and a triptych by Van Scorel.