Dom Tower (Domtoren), Utrecht, Netherlands

Dom van Utrecht.

The tower was part of the St. Martin's Cathedral, also known as Dom Church, and was built between 1321 and 1382, to a design by John of Hainaut. 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.

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. Its particular shape and original architecture had a large influence on many other towers in the Netherlands, including the Martinitoren in Groningen.

Upon completion in 1382 the tower stood 109 metres tall. However this height was increased during the restorations in 1910, to its present height of 112.5 metres.

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.

Lower part of the Dom tower.

The Dom Tower has an exceptional peal of fourteen ringing bells, weighting 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. 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. Together with the fourteenth bell, they form the largest existing homogeneous group of medieval bells.

In 1625, Jacob van Eyck became carillon player of the Dom Tower. In 1664, a new carillon was installed by Juriaan Sprakel of Zutphen, with a mechanism consisting of 35 chimes, made by the brothers Pieter and François Hemony. In 1972 the carillon was restored and extended to 50 bells.

Playing drum of the Dom in Utrecht.

The tower has its own visitor centre, RonDom (which refers to both the Dutch word rond or rondom (around - surrounding) and the name of the church - emphasized by the capital D), which is located in the square. As well as stocking a range of souvenirs, they organise a number of activities centred on the tower, including regular guided tours which allow people to climb the 465 steps to the top of the Dom Tower.

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. It is also possible to get married in the tower.

Achter de Dom 1. May-Sep: M-F 10:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-15:30, Su 12:30-16:00; Oct-Apr: M-F 11:00-15:00, Sa 10:00-15:30, Su 12:30-16:00.

• DOMunder, Dom Square (Domplein). guided tours Tu-Su 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30. An interesting museum/guided tour under the Dom Square about the Romans in Utrecht. €11. (Wikipedia)

Dom Tower (Domtoren), Utrecht, Netherlands

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