Poertoren (Powder Tower)

The Poertoren is a tower on the Begijnenvest in Bruges. The tower has been the storage place for the city's gunpowder since 1477 and owes its name to the West Flemish word for gunpowder: poer. The 18 meter high tower has a diameter of 8 meters; the walls are about 1.3 meters thick.

The Powder Tower was built in 1401 and is a remnant of the late medieval fortifications. The city stored their gunpowder supplies in this tower.

Just next to the Minnewater Bridge, the robust Poertoren stands out.
Good for 18 linear meters.
This defensive tower was built in 1397.
In the early 15th century the tower was joined by a smaller one on the other side of the bridge and together they formed the Waterpoort .
The 'big tower', as the Poertoren was also sometimes called, withstood the test of time and was converted into a storage place for gunpowder.
Which immediately explains its current name.
At the foot of the tower is the Poertorenpark, a well-hidden quiet spot that you reach via the metal stairs next to the tower.

Source: VisitBruges