Rijnsburgerpoort, stadspoort in Nederland
The Rijnsburgerpoort was a city gate in Leiden made of stone and built in the early 17th century. It featured an arched passage, decorative columns on both sides, and the city's coat of arms above the entrance.
The gate was built around 1632-1633 following a design by Jan Jacobsz van Banchem and served as a control point on the northwest side of Leiden for over two centuries. It was demolished in 1864 to accommodate growing traffic after the railway line opened.
The gate was known as the Rijnsburgerpoort or Haerlemmerpoort and marked the entrance to the city from the northwest. It was a recognizable point in the urban landscape where travelers and traders crossed the boundary between countryside and built-up town.
The location where the gate once stood is near the current Rijnsburgerbrug bridge, which crosses the former moat. Visitors can orient themselves with plaques at the site that provide information about its history and position.
The gate had two names, sometimes known as the Haerlemmerpoort after the road to Haarlem. Artists like Gerrit Groenewegen documented it in detailed 18th-century drawings that today provide insight into how it looked.
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