The tower is an essential and inseparable part of the Oude Kerk. For a long time, the tower and the church defined the appearance of Amsterdam. The tower rose up from every position in the city and the harbour.
The first stone church in the thirteenth century already had a tower. The current tower was built in the 14th century, raised in the 16th century and bricked up in the first half of the 18th century.
The spire, the highest, tapered point of the tower, is the crowning glory. Symbolically, this spire has two functions. The first is to proclaim power. A spire, reminiscent of a spearhead, gives the impression of power. The second is to reach up to the sky, a heavenly and hopeful gesture. The sound that comes from the towers also has both urban and religious functions. For a long time, the bell was rung every evening from the tower as a sign that the city gates were being locked. And the bells were rung as a call to church. And then there is the carillon, connected to the clock.
| Oude kerk Adlib Collect priref | 2540 |