Haarlem Discovery Tour: Lost Gates and the Siege of 1572

Amsterdamse Poort

The Amsterdamse Poort is the only one of the fourteen medieval town gates still standing. It got its name in 1631, after the Haarlemmertrekvaart was dug. In 18…

Catrijnenpoort

The Catrijnenpoort was a water gate over the Spaarne; its north tower was the Goevrouwetoren. In 1779 Adriaan de Boois built something new on these foundations…

Vrouwehek

The Vrouwehek was not a stone gatehouse but a gate: two brick piers, a small arch, a drawbridge and iron bars. It disappeared in the 19th century; the Vrouwehe…

Kennemerplein

The siege of Haarlem ended on 12 July 1573. Safe passage for the garrison and a fine for the town had been promised, but according to the source some 1,800 to…

Kruisstraat

During the siege the people of Haarlem blew up this gate themselves so the Spanish had no ready way in; an improvised bastion held off the attack. Coloured sto…

Jansstraat

The Janspoort was the first of the fourteen gates to go, around 1670-1683. No drawings survive. Of Haarlem's town gates only the Amsterdamse Poort survives.