Morschpoort, Leiden, Medieval city gate in Leiden, Netherlands
Morschpoort is a city gate in Leiden with an octagonal dome and stone construction that marks the western entrance to the city. The structure displays Mannerist architectural features and remains accessible to visitors year-round.
The gate was built in 1669 based on designs by Willem van der Helm, replacing a wooden structure from 1611. In the centuries that followed, it also served as a prison.
The name comes from De Morsch, a marshy meadow that once lay outside the city, a connection still reflected in the surrounding street names and neighborhoods. You can sense this link to the water and wetlands when you stand at the gate today.
The gate is located on Morsstraat and is easily accessible when exploring the western part of Leiden. Access is free and you can view it from the outside at any time.
Morschpoort is one of only two remaining gates from the original eight that once protected Leiden, the other being Zijlpoort. This rarity makes it an important surviving example of the city's medieval defensive architecture.
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