Montelbaanstoren

The Montelbaanstoren is an Amsterdam tower from 1516 on the Oudeschans 2. The name came about because the Duke of Alva (Alba) wanted to build a castle near this tower and wanted to give this castle the name Monte Albano.The tower was then called "Monte-Albaens-tooren", which was popularly spoiled in Montelbaanstoren. The tower is nicknamed Malle Jaap because the tower's bells once began to ring spontaneously at irregular times.From 2007 it was empty because the municipality could not find a tenant who was willing to pay 9,000 euros a month. From summer 2010 to 2013 it was leased to the Secret Garden Foundation for a significantly smaller amount, an interest group that advocates for gay, bisexual and transgender Muslims. The Private Boat Tours office has been located in the tower since 2014.Source: nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montelbaanstoren

A beautiful view of the Montelbaanstoren. It is a historic tower in Amsterdam. It was built in 1516 on the Oude Schans, which is also called Montelbaansgracht, and in the 16th century, as part of the medieval city wall, initially served as a guard tower over the port facilities and the Lastage commercial district, after it was set on fire several times by the Geldernschen.From 1606 the tower was no longer used for its original purpose and was given a wooden spike designed by the architect Hendrick de Keyser, including a clock with a striking mechanism. Since then, the tower has been 48 meters high.Popularly he is nicknamed Malle Jaap ("Dumb Jaap"), which stems from the inaccuracy of the clock and its striking in the 17th century. Since the tower was under the authority of the city authorities to regulate the water level in the canals from 1878 to 2006, it was not open to the public. The tower has been the seat of the Secret Garden Foundation since 2010.The Dutch painter Rembrandt lived near the tower for a long time and drew it several times without its top.
(Wikipedia)

Beautifully shrouded in lights at the time of the Festival of Lights. 😊

The Montelbaanstoren is an Amsterdam tower from 1516 on the Oudeschans