the original scultures from the 16th century are long gone, the present ones are from the 19th century
ancesters unknown
a first view of the buttresses and the figures sitting on it. The gutter is a few meters higher
a modern angel in jeans and on the phone. The phone has a direct line with Heaven
guides on the platform provide extra information
riding a huge dog
behold, this clearly is an armed devil
for unknown reasons his hands are tied
one of the winged waterspouts
Den Bosch
's Hertogenbosch is an old fortified city founded in 1185 by Duke Henry I.
 
The town's most famous citizen was Hieronymus Bosch who, as a young boy, must have witnessed the big fire of 1463. Some pundits speculate this was a great inspiration for his future work.
 
The gothic Sint Janskathedraal dominates the city's skyline. Work  started in 1370 and was finally completed in 1529. There are indications that Hieronymus Bosch helped create some of the sculptures.
 
In that time large structures needed double flying buttresses to lead the lateral forces away from the high walls. The St Jan has 16 of them, and on each one sit 6 creatures that provide weight on the butresses.
All 96 sculptures look up to heaven.
 
As part of the 2016 Jheronimus Bosch 500 year a large scaffolding was build that let visitors climb to the gutter at 24 m height for an up-close view of the strange monsters..
 
We did the "miraculous climb" in August 2016 and looked the monsters right in the eye. They did not blink..
website495057.jpg website495056.jpg website495055.jpg website495054.jpg website495053.jpg website495052.jpg website495051.jpg website495050.jpg website495049.jpg website495048.jpg website495047.jpg website495046.jpg website495007.gif website495044.gif website495043.gif
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
end
website495008.gif website495006.gif
part of the Sint Jan Cathedraal seen from the south
website495007.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif
the temporary scaffolding has a large platform
3
website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif
from above you have a nice view over den Bosch
website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif
he plays the flute
website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif
he seems to be unhappy. Understandable after 500 years
website495008.gif website495007.gif website495006.gif website495005.jpg website495004.jpg website495003.jpg website495002.jpg website495001.gif