Amsterdamse Poort, Medieval city gate in Haarlem, Netherlands.
Amsterdamse Poort is a fortified city gate on the eastern side of Haarlem featuring thick stone walls and two towers in Gothic style. The structure still shapes the riverbank of the Spaarne and shows the typical medieval design of a defensive fortress.
The gate was built in 1355 as Spaarnwouder Gate and received its current name in 1631 when a canal to Amsterdam was completed. This renaming reflected the growing connection between the two cities.
The gate takes its name from the canal connection to Amsterdam created in the 1600s, reflecting the commercial ties between the two cities. You can still see how this structure marked an important passage for trade and travel in that era.
The gate sits at the eastern edge of the city and is easy to reach on foot from the city center. The walk follows the Spaarne and offers a pleasant route through the historic surroundings.
Of twelve original medieval city gates, this is the sole one that has survived to the present day. Its preservation shows how much Haarlem valued keeping its past intact.
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