Watertoren, Water tower in Leiden, Netherlands.
Watertoren is a water storage tower in Leiden standing near the Wilhelmina Bridge over the Vliet at Hoge Rijndijk, rising about 30 meters high. It holds a large water tank and now serves partly as residential space.
The tower was built in 1908 by architect W.C. van Manen to replace the insufficient water supply from Katwijk. It reflected the city's growing needs as Leiden expanded.
The tower gained Rijksmonument status, showing how water storage became essential for the city's growth. It stands today as a reminder of how early infrastructure shaped urban development in Leiden.
The tower was taken out of service in 1993 and renovated to become residential space today. It remains easy to view from the surroundings near the bridge and city center.
This was the first water tower in the Netherlands built entirely from reinforced concrete with large concrete pillars. This pioneering construction method represented a major technical advance for its time.
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