Hoofdtoren

Description

The Hoofdtoren, located in Hoorn, North Holland, is one of the city's last remaining defensive structures. Built in 1532 from Gobertanger limestone and brick, it was named after the nearby pier, Houten Hoofd. In 1614, it ceased its defensive role and became the headquarters of the Noordse Compagnie. After a lightning strike in 1632 led to a fire, the tower was rebuilt. In 1651, a spire was added, modeled after Amsterdam's Zuiderkerk. Over time, it housed various guilds and companies. Since 1968, the Hoofdtoren has functioned as a restaurant and was registered as a national monument in 1965. A statue of the "Scheepsjongens van Bontekoe" stands nearby on the quay.