The major renovation of Den Bosch station will cost much more than planned: the bill will rise from 200 to approximately 400 million euros. About 100 million euros in additional plans will be added, while at the same time there is a 100 million euro shortfall to pay for everything. The parties involved must now agree who will bear which part of the costs.
Den Bosch station can hardly handle any more travelers. During rush hour, people have to walk close together on the narrow walkways between the platforms, and chaos often occurs near the escalators and the platforms are overcrowded. Councilor Rick Vermin walks past a closed escalator and points out how travelers should make their way. “That really is a work of art. NS and ProRail are trying to keep everything running until we can intervene.”
That renovation will be an expensive job. While the project was first estimated at 180 to 200 million euros, the bill is now expected to rise to almost 400 million. According to Vermin, this is due to price increases since 2020, but also because the parties have committed to do more, such as widening the narrowest platforms and renewing the bus station. “What we do here is not a luxury. It is a dire necessity. We must ensure that the station is future-proof.”
“Den Bosch station is one of the most important junctions for Brabant.”
Under the name Bosch Centraal, the municipality of Den Bosch, the NS, ProRail, the province of North Brabant and the government are completely overhauling the station and the surrounding area. Platforms, lifts and stairs will be renovated to make it easier for travelers to walk and transfer. The bicycle shed will be larger and more accessible, so that cyclists no longer have to maneuver around each other. The station squares will become greener and clearer, so that it will finally become pleasant to walk through the station.
The main reason for the renovation is that the station has literally become too small. “If you look at the platforms and the passerelle, it squeaks and creaks everywhere. During rush hour, you almost have to hold people, so to speak, to keep them from falling off the platforms,” says Vermin while standing on one of the narrow platforms.
Five years ago, 70,000 travelers used the station every day. That number is expected to rise to around 90,000 per day by 2040. This growth is not only due to more train passengers, but also to housing construction in Den Bosch and the region. By 2040, approximately 60,000 new homes will be built and 40,000 new jobs will be added. “Den Bosch station is one of the most important junctions for Brabant. From here you have many connections to the rest of Brabant and the country,” he says. “Many stations only experience huge crowds during rush hour, but Den Bosch is busy at the station all day long.”
“Travelers will notice that it is becoming increasingly busy.”
Precisely because the station plays such an important role, the province and the government also contribute to the costs. To raise the extra 200 million euros, all parties must meet again. “We are all looking at whether we can contribute some extra. The government will be responsible for most of this. We hope to have the financing in place in November, so that we can continue,” says the councilor.
If financing is completed, the municipality expects to be able to start the first major works around 2030. “Until then, travelers will mainly notice that it is getting busier and that it can sometimes be a squeeze,” says Vermin.
Other parts, such as the entrance and the bicycle shed, will follow later. The entire station and the area surrounding it must be ready by 2040, so that the junction remains future-proof for decades.
