Even though the Catharijnepoort in Utrecht no longer exists, the history of this gate is certainly worth reading about. This medieval gate was one of the main entrances to the city of Utrecht. It was demolished, later rebuilt and then demolished again. Read more about this gates’s history
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Dutch city gates and access roads
The rich history of the Netherlands is visible in many ways. The many city gates and access roads to important places are a great example. A city gate is used as a passage or access road into a city and was often part of a city wall or [stadswal]. The most important part of this was to defend the city. There are still several city gates to admire throughout the Netherlands.The oldest existing city gate in the Netherlands can be admired in the city of Maastricht. The ‘Helpoort’ was most likely built around 1230 and was part of the first medieval city wall. In the province of Overijssel, in the east of the Netherlands, the Sassenpoort in Zwolle still stands proudly. The beautiful Amsterdamse Poort in Haarlem is not only beautiful to see, but its gate also withstood the Spanish siege during the Eighty Years’ War without significant damage.
The Netherlands still has several city gates and access roads that have stood the test of time and still provide a glimpse into history. Some gates are a beautiful part of today’s architecture, others make you feel like you’re going back in time.
The new series of Silver Ducats offers you the possibility to add the most beautiful Dutch city gates and access roads, immortalized on a silver coin, to your collection.
The impressive Amsterdamse Poort, now a national monument, can be found in the city Haarlem. This gate, which dates from the 14th century, is the only of twelve medieval gates in Haarlem that is still standing to this day. The gate was originally used as a passage to Amsterdam. People usually travelled through the gate and arrived at the Haarlemmerpoort in the heart of Amsterdam, within 4 hours on foot. Read more about this national monument.