Dom Tower
The Dom Tower (Cathedral Tower, Dutch: Domtoren) of Utrecht is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands,[1] at 112.5 metres (368 feet) in height,[2] and the Gothic-style tower is the symbol of the city.[1] The tower was part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht, also known as Dom Church, and was built between 1321 and 1382,[1] to a design by John of Hainaut.[3] The cathedral was never fully completed due to lack of money. Since the unfinished nave collapsed in 1674 the Dom tower became a free standing tower.
The tower stands at the spot where the city of Utrecht originated almost 2,000 years ago.[1]
Design and construction
The Dom Tower was one of the largest towers constructed in Europe during the fourteenth century, and it was planned to show the power of the church of Utrecht.
The tower consists of two square blocks, topped by a much lighter lantern. One of the most striking features is the absence of visible buttresses. Upon completion in 1382 the tower stood 109 metres tall.[5] However this height was increased during the restorations in 1910, to its present height of 112.5 metres.[6]
The Dom tower was a multifunctional building. In addition to being a belfry, it contained a private chapel of the bishop of Utrecht on the first floor. It also served as the watchtower; the tower guard was housed on the second floor of the lower square block.[7]
Bells
The Dom Tower has an exceptional peal of fourteen ringing bells, weighing 32,000 kg. In 1505 Geert van Wou, in his time the most famous bell-founder of the Netherlands, made a harmonious peal of thirteen bells.[8] The seven smallest bells, sold in 1664 to finance the new carillon, were recast in 1982 by Eijsbouts. The largest bell, the Salvator, has a weight of 8,200 kg and a diameter of 227 cm.[8] Together with the fourteenth bell, they form the largest existing homogeneous group of medieval bells.[citation needed] Today the bells are set in motion by the members of the Utrecht Klokkenluiders Gilde.[9]
In 1625, Jacob van Eyck became carillon player of the Dom Tower. In 1664, a new carillon was installed by Juriaan Sprakel of Zutphen,[10] with a mechanism consisting of 35 chimes,[11] made by the brothers Pieter and François Hemony.[10] In 1972 the carillon was restored and extended to 50 bells.
Storm damage
The cathedral's nave was never completely finished,[12] and in 1674 a tornado destroyed this part of the cathedral, but the tower was undamaged.[13]
The remaining section of the church and the tower were never reconnected, and a street and Domplein square now separate the two structures.
In 1836 the top floor of the tower was heavily damaged in a storm and demolition of the tower was seriously considered. However, it was subsequently restored, a process which took five years.[11]
Tourism and weddings
The tower has its own visitor centre, and includes regular guided tours which allow people to climb the 465 steps to the top of the Dom Tower.[1][11] On a clear day it is possible to see both Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The booking office for guided tours is located in the square at the foot of the tower.
Dom Tower
The Dom Tower (Cathedral Tower, Dutch: Domtoren) of Utrecht is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands,[1] at 112.5 metres (368 feet) in height,[2] and the Gothic-style tower is the symbol of the city.[1] The tower was part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht, also known as Dom Church, and was built between 1321 and 1382,[1] to a design by John of Hainaut.[3] The cathedral was never fully completed due to lack of money. Since the unfinished nave collapsed in 1674 the Dom tower became a free standing tower.
The tower stands at the spot where the city of Utrecht originated almost 2,000 years ago.[1]
Design and construction
The Dom Tower was one of the largest towers constructed in Europe during the fourteenth century, and it was planned to show the power of the church of Utrecht.
The tower consists of two square blocks, topped by a much lighter lantern. One of the most striking features is the absence of visible buttresses. Upon completion in 1382 the tower stood 109 metres tall.[5] However this height was increased during the restorations in 1910, to its present height of 112.5 metres.[6]
The Dom tower was a multifunctional building. In addition to being a belfry, it contained a private chapel of the bishop of Utrecht on the first floor. It also served as the watchtower; the tower guard was housed on the second floor of the lower square block.[7]
Bells
The Dom Tower has an exceptional peal of fourteen ringing bells, weighing 32,000 kg. In 1505 Geert van Wou, in his time the most famous bell-founder of the Netherlands, made a harmonious peal of thirteen bells.[8] The seven smallest bells, sold in 1664 to finance the new carillon, were recast in 1982 by Eijsbouts. The largest bell, the Salvator, has a weight of 8,200 kg and a diameter of 227 cm.[8] Together with the fourteenth bell, they form the largest existing homogeneous group of medieval bells.[citation needed] Today the bells are set in motion by the members of the Utrecht Klokkenluiders Gilde.[9]
In 1625, Jacob van Eyck became carillon player of the Dom Tower. In 1664, a new carillon was installed by Juriaan Sprakel of Zutphen,[10] with a mechanism consisting of 35 chimes,[11] made by the brothers Pieter and François Hemony.[10] In 1972 the carillon was restored and extended to 50 bells.
Storm damage
The cathedral's nave was never completely finished,[12] and in 1674 a tornado destroyed this part of the cathedral, but the tower was undamaged.[13]
The remaining section of the church and the tower were never reconnected, and a street and Domplein square now separate the two structures.
In 1836 the top floor of the tower was heavily damaged in a storm and demolition of the tower was seriously considered. However, it was subsequently restored, a process which took five years.[11]
Tourism and weddings
The tower has its own visitor centre, and includes regular guided tours which allow people to climb the 465 steps to the top of the Dom Tower.[1][11] On a clear day it is possible to see both Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The booking office for guided tours is located in the square at the foot of the tower.