To spot the Winery Tower, look up ahead and keep an eye out for a tall, brick clocktower rising proudly above the bustling market square, its elegant octagonal spire and big round clock face making it nearly impossible to miss.
Alright, take a moment to really let your eyes wander up the tower’s warm, sandy stones and impressive architecture. You’re standing in front of the Winery Tower, or “Wijnhuistoren," a spot that’s been guarding Zutphen’s market square since way back in the early 1600s. But would you believe, the roots of this place go even deeper, all the way to around the year 1300, when an old cellar was first dug out for a sturdy, fortified house at the edge of the city’s defenses. Imagine the clatter of knights’ boots and the smell of roasting meat in a medieval tavern-this spot, originally a herberg called "Tho Vreden," was once a home to travelers, guards, and even the city government.
By 1420, the city snapped up the building, and suddenly it had a new life: with clanging market weights, watchmen stumbling in on cold nights, and the walls echoing with the city’s latest gossip and proclamations. They even built medieval toilets and a stone staircase, you know, for a little extra comfort-though I bet it still didn’t smell like roses in there!
Back in those days, there was a tall roof spire and a grand clock, giving Zutphen a brand new skyline. Can you picture local townsfolk, their faces turned up to check the time, sun beaming off the newly built clock? Years passed, and soon, the Wijnhuis and its tower fell into hard times, suffering through the tough days of Spanish occupation.
But Zutphen wasn’t ready to give up on its landmark. In 1616, the city hired a master stonemason named Emond Helleraet. Imagine the clank, clank, clank of chisel on stone as he raised this grand new tower in front of the Wijnhuis, adding rich decorations in golden sandstone. By the 1640s, the octagonal spire was up, inspired by grand designs from Amsterdam-bringing a touch of big-city glamour to little Zutphen.
Inside, the first-ever perfectly tuned carillon in the Netherlands began to ring out, made by the famous Hemony brothers-if you listen carefully, you can almost hear the soft music drifting over the cobbles. For centuries, the clock up there ruled the city’s time, long before telephones or Swiss watches.
Time wasn’t always kind. In 1920, a fire swept through, destroying the carillon and the tower’s top. Imagine the crash of falling timbers and the smoke rising high. Yet, with true Zutphen spirit, the tower was restored and a new carillon added. Even the Nazis couldn’t fully extinguish its stubborn heart-though they tried, stealing the bells during World War II. The building was rebuilt once more, welcoming guests from museum goers to Italian diners.
And now, you! So take a good look-the Winery Tower is more than just beautiful. It’s the beating, chiming heart of centuries of Zutphen history, always watching over the market, come rain, sun, or the odd city tour guide making cheesy jokes.
