Munttoren (Mint Tower)
The Munttoren or Munt is a tower in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
It stands on the busy Muntplein square, where the Amstel river and the
Singel canal meet, near the flower market and the eastern end of the
Kalverstraat shopping street.
The tower was originally part of the Regulierspoort, one of the
main gates in Amsterdam's medieval city wall. The gate, built in the
years 1480, consisted of two towers and a guard house.
After the gate went up in flames in a 1618 fire, only the guard
house and part of the western tower remained standing. The tower was
then rebuilt in Amsterdam Renaissance style in 1620, with an
eight-sided top half and elegant open spire designed by Hendrick de
Keyser, featuring a clockwork with four clockfaces and a carillon of
bells.
Photo 150, Sep 2016