Drakenfontein - Den Bosch, NL
Posted by: 
T-Team!
N 51° 41.428 E 005° 17.771
31U E 658709 N 5729107
This is the famous Dragon Fountain in Den Bosch (directly next to the main train station).
Waymark Code: WM14PMV
Location: Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Date Posted: 08/07/2021
Views: 6
About the Fountain:
"The Dragon Fountain is the most famous fountain in the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch. The statue on the fountain represents a dragon. Originally it was supposed to be a drinking fountain, but it never fulfilled that function. The fountain is located in the middle of the busy intersection of Stationsweg and Koninginnenlaan, right on the center side of 's-Hertogenbosch station."
About the history of the Fountain and Dragon
In 1881 the gentleman Bosch van Drakestein, Queen's Commissioner, had to deal with an enormous drama. He had two daughters, twins, aged 16. On November 19, one daughter died. A day later, on November 20, his other daughter also died.
Three years later, he was again struck by fate. His wife died. It is not known how his wife and daughters died. When he himself died in 1894, he left the municipality of Den Bosch an inheritance of 10,000 guilders. This money was intended for the erection of a fountain monument in memory of his deceased daughters and wife.
Icing on the cake
In 1903, 'De Draak' was unveiled, designed by the Bossche city architect Dony. The golden mythical creature crowns the monument. The dragon holds the family coat of arms with the spell 'Virtute et Labore' (By virtue and labor) in its claw. At the front of the monument is a representation in copper, which commemorates the deceased wife and twin daughters."
Recent restauration:
It has recently been restored and top dragon (check out there a several more black dragons at the bottom of the fountain), was moved for a period to the Norod Brabant museum. When the fountain was fully restored, the dragon moved back to its original place on top of the fountain (July 2021).
For more info on the restauration: (
visit link)