Marepoort, voormalige stadspoort in Nederland
The Marepoort was a three-part stone and brick gate on the north side of Leiden with classical decorative details. It featured carved stone ornaments and lion figures holding the city's coat of arms above the main arches.
The first Marepoort appeared around 1602 when an old water tower was converted into a city gate. The final version was built between 1665 and 1666 by designer Willem van der Helm and was demolished in 1864 as the city expanded northward.
The gate took its name from the nearby Mare river, which defined the northern edge of the city. It served as a daily gathering point where traders and travelers from the surrounding countryside passed through to enter Leiden.
The gate no longer stands physically, but historical drawings and photographs from the 1800s show how it looked in detail. You can visit the location where it once stood and imagine its role at the northern edge of the city's old defenses.
A carved stone bearing the year 1615 and the text 'Dit is inde oude Marenpoort' marked the final version of the gate before it was replaced. After the gate's demolition in 1864, this stone was preserved in a nearby building as a lasting reminder of Leiden's history.
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