Hoofdtoren, Defense fort in Hoorn, Netherlands.
The Hoofdtoren is a medieval defensive tower from the 16th century, standing at the entrance of the harbor in Hoorn, in the Netherlands. The side facing the water is built with thick walls and openings for cannons and muskets, while the landward side is made of brick.
The tower was built in 1532 to protect the harbor entrance at a time when Hoorn was growing as a trading port. As the town's role in maritime trade declined over the following centuries, the tower lost its military purpose but remained standing on the waterfront.
The clock on the outer wall once helped sailors read the time as they approached the harbor entrance. Today the tower marks the end of a popular waterfront walk and draws people who come to sit near the old moored boats.
The tower is easy to reach on foot from the center of Hoorn and sits directly on the harbor quay. Visitors can walk around the outside and get a clear view of the harbor and the old boats moored nearby.
The water-facing side of the tower is clad in pale natural stone, while the rest of the walls are brick, and the difference between the two materials is still easy to spot. This stone facing was chosen so that sailors could identify the tower from out at sea, even in poor light.
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