Montelbaanstoren
The Montelbaanstoren stands along the Oudeschans, a tall, red-brick sentinel that’s been guarding Amsterdam’s canal edge since the early 16th century. The original tower was built in 1516 as part of the Walls of Amsterdam for city and harbor defense, a line of fortifications that helped shape the capital’s growth. In 1606, the top half was redesigned by the architect Hendrick de Keyser, giving the tower its distinctive decorative crown and upper profile that you see today. At about 48 meters tall, it remains a striking landmark on the canal bank. Its name hints at a curious historical twist: the 3rd Duke of Alba reportedly proposed incorporating the tower into a castle called Monte Albano, and the Dutch nickname Monte Albano Toren gradually morphed into Montelbaanstoren. The castle itself was never built, but the name stuck, and the tower has stood through centuries of Amsterdam’s changing tides. …
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