Kruithuis, 's-Hertogenbosch, Gunpowder magazine and art center in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
The Kruithuis is a military storage building in 's-Hertogenbosch constructed in a hexagonal shape and defined by exterior walls made of brick and natural stone. Inside, a central courtyard with an entrance gate faces toward the city walls.
Construction took place between 1618 and 1620 under engineer Jan van der Weeghen as part of military fortifications. After the siege of 's-Hertogenbosch in 1629, the building was converted to serve weapons production.
The name comes from its original use as a gunpowder storage facility, and today visitors experience it as a place where art exhibitions and cultural events take place. The spaces show how a military building has transformed into a center for contemporary art and public gathering.
The site is reachable on foot and the central courtyard serves as a natural orientation point for visitors. The on-site cafe provides a comfortable place to rest and take in the surroundings.
This is the last remaining gunpowder magazine from the Eighty Years' War period still standing in the Netherlands. Its survival shows how specialized military construction techniques were used during that conflict.
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