Munttoren

The Munttoren, or Mint Tower, stands at the Muntplein, the square where the Amstel river meets the Singel canal in the centre of Amsterdam, and it is one of the best-known landmarks of the old city. It is a tall brick tower with a graceful, decorated spire, and it rises over the busy junction, with the flower market, the Bloemenmarkt, beside it. For many visitors it is a point of orientation and a memorable photo stop, and it is easy to reach on foot from Rembrandtplein, Leidseplein and Dam Square.

The lower part of the tower dates from the late fifteenth century. It was built between 1480 and 1487 as part of the Regulierspoort, a gate in the medieval city wall, and it formed one of the defensive towers of the town. In 1618, a great fire destroyed the upper part of the gate, leaving only the base of the tower standing. The city then commissioned the architect and sculptor Hendrick de Keyser to rebuild the top, and he added the octagonal tower with its elegant spire and a clock, completed in 1620. The result is a Renaissance crown on a medieval base, which explains its combination of styles.

The tower gained its name because of its later use for coin production. In the seventeenth century, during the crisis of 1672, when the Dutch Republic was invaded by France and other powers and the mints elsewhere were threatened, the city of Amsterdam used the tower to strike coins for Holland and Utrecht, and the name Munttoren, Mint Tower, stuck. It has been known by that name ever since, though coins were made there only for a short period. The tower is one of the few surviving parts of the medieval fortifications of Amsterdam.

The tower is famous for its carillon, a set of bells that chime tunes every quarter hour and play a longer concert on Friday afternoons. The bells were cast in the seventeenth century and are part of the soundscape of the city centre. At the foot of the tower, a shop sells Delft blue pottery and souvenirs, and you can walk freely around the exterior. The interior is not generally open to visitors.

The tower is a good place to begin a walk along the Singel and through the flower market, and it is close to the shopping streets and cafes. It suits visitors of all kinds, as it is free to see. Look up at the clock and listen for the bells.