Towers of The Netherlands

We often forget to look up when we walk or cycle around the city. A shame, because there are many beautiful – be it old or modern – towers in the Netherlands with great architectural details. This personal projects aims to showcase these towers in a more abstract way, where I focus purely on the shapes of these towers. Scroll down to see them. All the following buildings are made in Adobe Illustrator.

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Amsterdam

Zuiderkerk

The Zuiderkerk is a 17th-century Protestant church in the Nieuwmarkt area of Amsterdam.The church tower was not completed until 1614. The church played an important part in the life of Rembrandt and was the subject of a painting by Claude Monet. Three of Rembrandt’s children were buried in the Zuiderkerk.

Rotterdam

New Orleans

‘New Orleans’ is a 158.3 meter residential skyscraper in Rotterdam, designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira. It is currently the tallest residential building in the Netherlands. The tower was completed in 2010.

Groningen

Martinitoren

The Martinitoren is located at the north-eastern corner of the Grote Markt (Main Market Square). It contains a brick spiral staircase consisting of 260 steps, and the carillon within the tower contains 62 bells. The tower is considered one of the main tourist attractions of Groningen and offers a view over the city and surrounding area.

Hilversum

Hilversum Raadhuis

The Hilversum Town Hall was designed by Willem Marinus Dudok. Construction was completed in 1931. It is a much-admired building that is considered the finest example of Dudok’s work and internationally recognised as one of the most influential buildings of its time.

Utrecht

De Dom

The Dom Tower of Utrecht is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands at 112.5 metres. The tower was part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin and was built between 1321 and 1382. Part of the cathedral was damaged by a rare tornado. The destroyed section was never rebuild and so it became a free standing tower.  The tower stands at the spot where the city of Utrecht originated almost 2,000 years ago.

Eindhoven

Vesteda Toren

The Vesteda tower is located in Eindhoven and was finished in 2006. At 90 metres and 28 floors tall it is the fourth highest building in Eindhoven. The tower is designed by architect Jo Coenen and won the ‘BNA building of the year’ price in 2007.

Den Haag

De Haagse Toren

The ‘Haagse Toren’ is the tower part of the ‘Great St. James Church, a landmark Protestant church in The Hague. The building is located on the Torenstraat, named for its high tower. It is one of the oldest buildings in The Hague.

Delft

Faculty of Architecture

This tower belongs to the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. It is the largest faculty of the university and one of the largest architecture schools in the world. On January 8, 1842, King Willem II founded the ‘Royal Academy for the education of civilian engineers, for serving both nation and industry, and of apprentices for trade’.

Hollum

Bornrif Lighthouse

The lighthouse, commonly known as Bornrif, is a lighthouse on the Dutch island Ameland, one of the Frisian Islands. It was designed by Dutch lighthouse architect Quirinus Harder and constructed in 1880 in a different city (Deventer). The individual segments were shipped to Ameland and welded together on-site.

Zwolle

De Peperbus

This tower nicknamed the ‘Peperbus’ (pepper grinder) is a 75 meter high tower in the city of Zwolle. Officially named Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren, this tower was build between 1454 and 1463 without the ‘cap’ on top. Later, after a big fire in 1815, the current top was constructed.

Amsterdam

Zuiderkerk

The Zuiderkerk is a 17th-century Protestant church in the Nieuwmarkt area of Amsterdam.The church tower was not completed until 1614. The church played an important part in the life of Rembrandt and was the subject of a painting by Claude Monet. Three of Rembrandt’s children were buried in the Zuiderkerk.

Rotterdam

New Orleans

‘New Orleans’ is a 158.3 meter residential skyscraper in Rotterdam, designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira. It is currently the tallest residential building in the Netherlands. The tower was completed in 2010.

Groningen

Martinitoren

The Martinitoren is located at the north-eastern corner of the Grote Markt (Main Market Square). It contains a brick spiral staircase consisting of 260 steps, and the carillon within the tower contains 62 bells. The tower is considered one of the main tourist attractions of Groningen and offers a view over the city and surrounding area.

Hilversum

Hilversum Raadhuis

The Hilversum Town Hall was designed by Willem Marinus Dudok. Construction was completed in 1931. It is a much-admired building that is considered the finest example of Dudok’s work and internationally recognised as one of the most influential buildings of its time.

Utrecht

De Dom

The Dom Tower of Utrecht is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands at 112.5 metres. The tower was part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin and was built between 1321 and 1382. Part of the cathedral was damaged by a rare tornado. The destroyed section was never rebuild and so it became a free standing tower.  The tower stands at the spot where the city of Utrecht originated almost 2,000 years ago.

Eindhoven

Vesteda Toren

The Vesteda tower is located in Eindhoven and was finished in 2006. At 90 metres and 28 floors tall it is the fourth highest building in Eindhoven. The tower is designed by architect Jo Coenen and won the ‘BNA building of the year’ price in 2007.

Den Haag

De Haagse Toren

The ‘Haagse Toren’ is the tower part of the ‘Great St. James Church, a landmark Protestant church in The Hague. The building is located on the Torenstraat, named for its high tower. It is one of the oldest buildings in The Hague.

Delft

Faculty of Architecture

This tower belongs to the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment. It is the largest faculty of the university and one of the largest architecture schools in the world. On January 8, 1842, King Willem II founded the ‘Royal Academy for the education of civilian engineers, for serving both nation and industry, and of apprentices for trade’.

Hollum

The Bornrif Lighthouse

The lighthouse, commonly known as Bornrif, is a lighthouse on the Dutch island Ameland, one of the Frisian Islands. It was designed by Dutch lighthouse architect Quirinus Harder and constructed in 1880 in a different city (Deventer). The individual segments were shipped to Ameland and welded together on-site.

Zwolle

De Peperbus

This tower nicknamed the ‘Peperbus’ (pepper grinder) is a 75 meter high tower in the city of Zwolle. Officially named Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren, this tower was build between 1454 and 1463 without the ‘cap’ on top. Later, after a big fire in 1815, the current top was constructed.