On the edge of the historic city center of Den Bosch, on the banks of the Dieze, stands perhaps the most special hotel in the city: De Bossche Kraan. At a height of 12 meters, you are the temporary crane operator, waking up with – your choice- of a great panoramic view.
When Jazmarae and I decided to make a book about staycations, this fantastic yellow crane was one of the first locations that really stood out for us. We were overjoyed when we received an invitation to come and stay overnight!
Tramkade, Den Bosch
We decided to leave for Den Bosch a little earlier, in order to explore the neighborhood a bit. That was a good choice because the crane is located in one of the hippest places in the city: De Tramkade – centered in the Spoorzone of Den Bosch. This former site of Mengvoederfabriek De Heus is full of striking silos and industrial buildings. The Kaaihallen, the Werkwarenhuis and the Mengfabriek are now breathing new life into the area where the former animal feed factory was in operation more than a hundred years ago. Now, De Tramkade mainly houses creative companies, restaurants, and bars. It’s easy to imagine why it’s earned its reputation as a vibrant cultural and creative hotspot.
Unfortunately, during our visit, it was now a little less vibrant, hello Covid-19. Luckily the sun was shining so we were able to enjoy the street art on the walls in this Fun Park! Another perk was we could still have a cappuccino at Brouwpodium Bossche Brouwers on the Vaart – at the foot of the crane. Fun fact: the owner of the Bossche Brouwers also owns De Bossche Kraan!
How it started
For our history enthusiasts, lets take a short trip down memory lane shall we! The origin of the crane dates back to 1978 and served for years as a harbor crane unloading raw materials for animal feed off of boats – from the grab, into the funnel next to the crane, and then on to conveyor belts to the – now colorful – storage silos. Initially, the crane operated under Koudijs Wouda and later on was owned by De Heus. Though it has not been active since May 2014, the renovation did not start until five years later. In 2019, the crane was completely removed from its base, stripped, expanded, and converted into the hotel room it is today. Entirely single-handedly, by the way! It was designed by the Bossche architect Boyke Kooijmans, artist Jeroen Kooijmans and owners Victor Kooijmans and Marjolein van Bokhoven. And no, those surnames are no coincidence, it really has become a family project! A little over a year later, in May 2020, the very first guests were received in this special hotel.
The Crane
At first, we admired the crane from the outside. We loved how the designers made sure the new luxury hotel still obviously retained the looks of its past life, showing respect to the machine that had done so much work on the wharf. When 3 p.m. rolled around, it was time to check-in and move our admiration inside!
Important note: Check-in is completely digital, with a code that you receive in advance, which is so perfect for these corona times (we struggled for a while, reading is also a profession). Via a spiral staircase, you arrive in the “hotel exceptional” – which is more or less like a tiny house.
Although the room is compact, it is warmly furnished with a fine color palette and fully stocked to meet more than your basic needs. It has a spacious double bed, a cozy sitting area with a wonderful view, a dining table, a kitchenette with all essentials – such as a coffee machine, kettle, and refrigerator – and a bright yellow, small bathroom with a rain shower! The shower room was filled with surprises including bathrobes, towels, shampoo, shower gel, and a hairdryer. So yes it really is fully equipped!
Sustainable
The Bossche Kraan was developed as a mostly sustainable project. Not only has the crane itself been recycled, but its interior was designed with reduce, reuse, recycle in mind. The timber used was another project’s leftovers, various pieces of furniture are second-hand, the linens are organic and fair trade (from Yumeko), even the coffee cubes are biodegradable coffee cubes (from the Koffiejongens)! Plus, they provide 90% organic food and drinks.
Room Service and Crane Water
When booking, not only can you add breakfast – more on that later – but you can also opt for a bottle of cava or even a fully stocked fridge. Upon arrival, we found a delicious bottle of wine and a few bottles of their very own brewed beer called, “crane water.” If you watch our vlog, you can also see the effect these drinks had on us. 😉 Den Bosch is so beautiful from the water, if you have good weather, it is an absolute must to rent your own boat for the small fee of € 50.
Crane Operator
The view from the room is breathtaking, and what makes it even better: you can play, ‘crane operator,’ and literally, shift your field of vision! The owners wanted to build a special hotel room while retaining the crane feeling. By leaving the original driver’s cabin intact, you as a hotel guest can turn the crane yourself by 240 degrees. I like to be in control, so it was a pleasure to take a seat in the authentic control chair. For those who prefer a more leisurely approach: next to your bed is a button you can press to turn the room! So wake up with a view of your choice: are you going for the silos or the Sint-Jan? With some luck, you might even wake up to a special sunrise. Speaking of views, the room also includes a skylight so you can peak the 20-foot boom from your bed. I mean, how unique do you want your getaway to be?
The next morning: breakfast!
The next morning we woke up early to enjoy the view. Although it was incredibly foggy, it was wonderful to wake up with a cup of coffee. And back to that breakfast . In advance, you indicate whether you want a “normal” or vegetarian breakfast along with what time you want to eat. The next morning you can expect a knock on the door at the agreed time. When we opened the door, there was a whole box with an extensive breakfast: croissants, rolls, different types of toppings, pancakes, fruit, and fresh orange juice. A feast! Unfortunately, after breakfast, it was almost time to go. We packed our things, took some last pictures and left the crane at 11.00 am sharp.
Special Experience
What a unique experience to spend the night in a bright yellow harbor crane! All-day long we received waves from boaters passing by. As much as we’d like to think we are nice to look at, we know the true eye-catcher was the crane itself! Are you as enthusiastic as we are? Then I would recommend you book a night in Den Bosch fast because I am guessing that they will be fully booked in no time!
Check out our vlog!
→ This article was written in collaboration with De Bossche Kraan. We got to stay here for free, in exchange for content. Of course you can read our own opinion here!
