Zierikzee Things to Do

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The most famous monument is the Sint-Lievens Monster Tower, popularly known as the Thick Tower is called. This tower looks like two drops of water on the Rombouts Cathedral in Mechelen.

The construction of the tower had its beginning in 1454. The probable designer of the tower had the Mechelen architect Andrew I Keldermans. The building was put under the leadership of his son and grandson Anthony I Rombout II Keldermans. Typical of the style of the family Keldermans the rich ornamentation of the tower.
The tower

It is assumed that the work on the foundation 25 years and confiscated. The city fire of 1466, which includes the western part of the church struck, has caused delays.

The size of the foot of the tower is 16 x 16 meters (including the buttresses 24.5 to 24.5 meters). In comparison, the foot of the highest church tower in the Netherlands, the buttress free Dom Tower in Utrecht, measuring 19.5 by 19.5 meters.

Because the excavation should cause no damage to the church, the tower was not fixed to the church built. Although account was later building a connection remained virtually undeveloped open space. The tower is built with several million bricks. They came among others from the area of ​​Dordrecht, Rotterdam and Gouda.

The exterior of the tower was covered with expensive stone. The small white sandy limestone blocks come from the region north and east of Brussels. This stone is called Brabant white freestone.

In a period of about 30 years, the tower in its current form completed, ie until the first round. Around 1510, construction was halted by a deterioration of the local economy. Lacked the means to complete the tower. This was because the ships were sunk materials. The cost of the tower, as he finally realized was totaled approximately 100,000 guilders, a very high amount of money for that time.

It was assumed that the tower about 180 to 200 meters should be. From new calculations of the crowning design of the tower that he was about 130 feet high should be. This is higher than the Utrecht Dom Tower.

The unfinished tower was finally an overhanging list. In addition, a bell house nooddak built. This came in the years of the 16th century ready. In the course of the time the tower lost much of its beauty. Numerous decorations disappeared, especially in the 18th century. The wooden tower crowning was demolished in 1835. In 1839/1840 a new roof was built. Moreover, a cornice and a balustrade made.

Visiting this museum is going back into time - 500 years - the golden years of Dutch sea expeditions accross the oceans
Open : 1/4 t/m 31/10
Mo -Sa 10.00 - 17.00 uur. Sun 12.00 - 17.00
Entrance fee : 2 euro
Children till 6 years old: for free.

The tower is called The Sint Lieven Monster toren. Short "De dikke Toren". Inside the tower is a little museum and you can also clim the +/- 178 stairs to see a beautifull view of Zierikzee. (and beyond)
When Zierikzee was located at the open sea, they wanted to build the highest tower of the Netherlands. This way all the sailors, ships and boats knew where to go. During the construction the money run out, after a few years they managed to build a top. The size of the tower is now 1/8 of his actual size.

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Strolling around in a small nice city, this after a wonderful day of sailing in Bruinisse, only 12km from Zierikzee - 60km from Vlissingen. The center, close to the canal is a quite nice open area
with a lot of restaurants, pubs and a famous maritime museum.

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In the Maritiem Museum, you can see, one of the oldest Netherlands shipsmodel 1672.
The building in which is the museum, is categorised almost 500 years old. For age long,it did be a service as a town prison.There was a inscripties and drawing on the oak wooden which was left behind by the prisoners, the senior dates from 1577.

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Zierikzee is a small town in the southern Dutch province of Zeeland with a history that dates back to the 13th century.

Many of the buildings still to be seen here are from around the 15th century onwards. There are surprisingly many of them still in very good condition.

The story goes that in the middle ages, their were 2 old, rich ladies, who paid for this tower. 1 of the points of the tower is a little bended, this supposed to be because one of the ladies was also bended.

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Zierikzee is a nice place for shopping between old monuments. Sight seeing and buying your souvenirs all in one.
Take a rest on the many terraces where you can have your lunch while enjoy the scenery.