Plompe Toren, Medieval church tower in Schouwen-Duiveland, Netherlands
Plompe Toren is a church tower roughly 23 meters tall standing on the Oosterschelde coast as the only remaining structure of the former village of Koudekerke. The stone structure rises solitary above the marshland and waterways.
Built in 1468, the tower survived while fourteen villages in the region vanished between 1475 and 1650 due to rising waters and coastal erosion. It remained standing despite the same forces that destroyed all surrounding settlements.
The tower represents how coastal communities adapted to living with water and the constant threat of flooding through their buildings and choices. It stands as a reminder of villages and people who once thrived in this landscape.
Access to the top offers views across the Oosterschelde and surrounding wetlands and grasslands. The location is also a good spot to watch water birds and other wildlife.
The tower has served sailors for centuries as a navigation landmark on the Oosterschelde and is now also viewed as a work of art. Its silhouette remains a familiar sight for boaters and water travelers crossing the waterway.
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