City walls of 's-Hertogenbosch
The city of 's-Hertogenbosch was founded in 1185 by the dukes of Brabant in the north of their territory, near the fortress of Orthen and strategically near the Meuse. To protect themselves from bandits, enemy soldiers and other scum, it was customary to wall a city at that time. The walling of a city was only allowed to begin after a town had been granted city rights by the landlord. The first wall of the city of 's-Hertogenbosch was completed in 1225, making this wall the oldest fortifications in the Netherlands.
The wall itself is largely demolished, but in several places you can still see where the wall stood in the pavement, for example on the Hinthamerpromenade, near the market. The city had initial dimensions which hardly exceed the current market in the city.
Several city gates gave access to the city. One of these city gates can still be found in a building on the aforementioned Hinthamerpromenade.
The city of 's-Hertogenbosch grew, and in 1318 the city was allowed to build a second wall, which would bring inhabited districts back into the safety of the walls.
