Montelbaanstoren, Medieval watchtower in eastern Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The Montelbaanstoren is a 48-meter watchtower along the Oude Schans canal in eastern Amsterdam. Its red brick base supports a white ornamental spire topped with a working clock, a design that emerged from a major rebuild in the early 1600s.
The tower was built in 1512 as part of Amsterdam's defensive walls around the growing harbor. Architect Hendrick de Keyser redesigned it completely in 1606, adding the distinctive white spire that defines its appearance today.
The name "Montelbaanstoren" comes from Italian and means "mountain tower." Amsterdam residents in the 17th century called it "Gekke Jan" (Crazy Jack) because the clock often kept incorrect time and rang at surprising moments.
The tower sits directly on the canal and is easy to reach from the old city center. Since the building now houses offices, interior visits are not typically available, but viewing the exterior from the waterside or nearby streets provides clear photo opportunities and a good view of its architectural details.
Rembrandt, who lived nearby in Amsterdam, sketched the tower multiple times but deliberately omitted the white spire from his drawings. He chose instead to focus on the original medieval brick structure, a striking artistic choice that shows how selective artists can be when capturing a familiar landmark.
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