[2] After the 1629 Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch, the city magistrate got authority over education, which then had to teach along the lines of the Reformation.

[10] In October 1847 the Minister of the Interior made the Latin School of 's-Hertogenbosch a gymnasium.

In November 1847 the school then advertised for teachers in mathematics, Dutch, French, German and English.

The second department taught calculus, logic and geometry; basics of physics, chemistry, and mechanics as applied to commerce, industry and manufacturing; geography; general and Dutch history; Dutch, French, German and English language and literature; and finally double-entry bookkeeping.

[13] In July 1853 the Provincial Society for Art and Sciences Provinciaal Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, the City Gymnasium and the municipality made a plan for a new building.

It would house the gymnasium and the great library and cabinet of curiosities of the society.

[14] In July 1854 the provincial authorities approved to contribute 3,000 guilders for building the rooms for the society library.

By that time teaching about commercial subjects, drawing and clear writing were added.

By 1857 the number of students had increased to 60, and the second department got a special class to prepare for the military academies.

In 1863 the desire to have better practical secondary education in the Netherlands led to the law that established the very successful Hogere Burgerschool (HBS).

In August 1863 the minister for education wrote the municipal council that he thought that the second department of the gymnasium would be a good core for a new HBS.

[21] By September 1865 the municipality had decided to give the building of the gymnasium and provincial society to the national government.

[23] The student numbers in 1866 showed the limited success of the broad gymnasium.

Other teachers appointed on 1 September were J. Ringeling, J. M. Sistermans, E. H. P. van der Ven, and J. P.

The establishment of the HBS meant that the gymnasium lost its second department, and that "only the old Latin School was left".

In July 1868 the minister stated that he would agree to a four-year course if the municipality provided classrooms.

In July 1879 the municipality appointed these teachers for the gymnasium: G. Lamerschop for French and German; J. Schüngel for physics and chemistry; A. L. Lamers and F. A. W. Schäfer for natural history; J. H. A. van Ravenhorst for English; and J. Gleuns for mathematics.

In August 1879 there was a tender for preparing grounds east of the Nachtegaalslaantje, meant for placement of the gymnasium building.

Students who wanted to study law or theology now had to pass exams in mathematics in order to reach the university.

Lessons in gymnastics, physics, chemistry and natural history were given in the nearby building of the HBS.

In 1972, the school moved to a location on In den Boerenmouw 14, near the St. John's Cathedral.

A gymnasium offers a form of voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs (VWO), preparatory scientific education.

In recent decades this form of gymnasium has gained more popularity with parents.

It is public in the sense that it is open to all children, not only those of parents who favor a particular religious or other conviction.