Balanspoort, Gothic gatehouse at Middelburg Abbey, Netherlands
The Balanspoort is a Gothic gate in Middelburg that marks the entrance to the former monastery grounds. The facade features pointed arches and was decorated with stone imported from Tournai, a material that traveled from far away.
The gate was built in the 13th century and received new windows in the 15th century. It was substantially restored around 1900 and is now a protected monument.
The gate once served as the entrance to a monastery and now forms part of a museum showing regional history. Visitors can see how the structure reflects the religious importance this place held.
The gate sits between Balans street and Abdijplein, the main square of the monastery grounds. You can easily reach it on foot and it serves as a good landmark when exploring the area.
The upper side of the gate features semicircular recesses that use traditional medieval design elements. These fine details are easy to overlook but represent some of the most interesting aspects of the structure.
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