Renewed Den Bosch Station research: green and open

Den Bosch Station is bursting at the seams while the number of passengers is increasing. There has been talk of a new station for years, but the municipality has not yet been as concrete as it is now. Aldermen Rick Vermin and Roy Geers reveal the plans for Bosch Centraal.

With more than 16,500 transfer passengers per day in 2023, Den Bosch Station is the largest transfer station in the Netherlands, after Utrecht Centraal. More than 56,000 passengers have Den Bosch as their destination every day. “The number decreased during the corona years, but it is now increasing. The expectation is that in 2025 the numbers will increase again towards the number before corona. Then we will reach the limits during rush hour. Platform 6/7 is already overcrowded during rush hour,” says alderman Rick Vermin.

In addition, 15,000 homes will be built in the Spoorzone in the coming years and the number of workplaces in that area will also increase. Furthermore, the A2 near Den Bosch has already reached its maximum and so you can draw the conclusion. Alderman Roy Geers: “People need to be able to get from A to B. If that is not possible via the A2, then it must be done via public transport.”

The latter is not only the opinion of the municipality of Den Bosch, but also of the government, the province, ProRail and NS. They all see Den Bosch station as an important transport hub in the south of the Netherlands. Together they have started to make a design and a starting budget. Not only the station will get a much-needed makeover, but also the surrounding area. That is why this project is called Bosch Centraal. A city park will be built on both sides of the station and cars will be banned.

What is striking in the designs is the abundance of space in and around the station. “We have worked out two possible solutions: a passage with the station hall on the ground floor, and one with the hall on the first floor, as is the case now,” says Vermin.

The bus station is also being overhauled and bus passengers will receive better facilities. “There are actually no facilities at the moment, while the station can barely handle the growing number of passengers,” says Vermin. Geers: “While you want people to travel by public transport.” 2030 is seen as the starting point for the construction of the renovated station, but the municipality immediately adds that it is difficult to achieve. Vermin: “There are still many steps to be taken, but we are sticking to that year. That way, we want to keep everyone on their toes.” He expects it to be completely finished by the middle of the 2030s.