To spot the Old Water Tower, just look above the trees-it's the tall, round, red-brick structure with castle-like battlements peeking out from the greenery across the water.
Ah, here we are in front of the marvelous Old Water Tower of Zaltbommel! Picture yourself in 1905, when Jan Schotel designed this striking 21-meter tower, rising above the river’s mist like a red-brick guardian. Back then, it was a vital part of the city, holding 50 cubic meters of fresh water in its tank and a deep chamber six meters underground-imagine those pipes humming as water rushed through! For decades, it stood proud, until 1960, when it retired from active duty and its enormous water tank was hauled away in the swinging sixties-no more splashy business upstairs!
But wait, our story doesn’t end there. In the 1980s, this old giant became a quirky weekend retreat-imagine telling your friends you’re off to spend the night in a medieval-looking tower! By 1996, the top was carefully taken off and rebuilt, brick by brick, earning a special prize from the Dutch Water Tower Foundation-talk about winning a “head-turning” award! These days, it’s a real home, filled with everyday life. So next time you pass, wave hello-there just might be someone having breakfast high above the trees, in Zaltbommel’s most unique house!
