Oldehove (tower)

De Oldehove ( Frisian: Aldehou ) is an unfinished church tower in the medieval city center of Leeuwarden. The Oldehove continuously tilts as the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

There was a mound on which in the late 9th century dedicated to St. Veit tuff church was built on the site of Oldehove. This was replaced by a larger church in the 13th century. Work on the adjacent late-Gothic tower began in 1529 after the residents of Leeuwarden have required a larger church than in Groningen. After the death of the architect Jacob van Aken work commenced under Cornelis Frederiksz on.

During the construction of the tower began but sag. The builders tried to compensate for this by using auxiliary beams. But in the end the work in 1532 have been set. In the years 1595-1596 the dilapidated church was demolished. Only the tower was left standing. The tower consists mostly of simple bricks and to a lesser extent from Bentheim sandstone, it has two bells and a clock. In summer it is possible for tourists to climb the tower.