Dom Tower of Utrecht
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| Dom Tower of Utrecht | |
Dom Tower, with the remaining part of the cathedral in the background. |
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Geographic coordinates | |
| Religious affiliation | Protestant |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Year completed | 1382 |
| Specifications | |
| Height (max) | 112.5 metres (368 feet) |
The Dom Tower (Domtoren) of Utrecht is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands,[1] at 112.5 metres (368 feet) in height,[2] and the Gothic-style tower is the symbol of the city.[1] The tower was part of the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht, also known as Dom Church, and was built between 1321 and 1382,[1] to a design by Jan van Hainaut.[3] The cathedral wasn't completed until much later, due to lack of money.
The tower stands at the spot where the city of Utrecht originated almost 2,000 years ago.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Design and Construction
The Dom Tower was one of the largest towers constructed in Europe during the fourteenth century, and it was planned to show the power of the church of Utrecht.[citation needed] Its construction led many to protest against the vanity of such an immense project, suggesting it was too tall, too expensive and all but aesthetic.[4] The tower consists of two massive 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.[citation needed] Upon completion in 1382 the tower stood 106.75 metres tall.[4] However this height was increased during the restorations of 1901 and 1932, to its present height of 112.5 metres.[4]
The Dom tower was a multifunctional building. In addition to being a belfry, it contained the living quarters of the Archbishop of Utrecht,[5] as well as his private chapel, St. Michael's, which is located about halfway up the tower.[6] It also served as the watchtower and house for the tower guard.[5]
[edit] Bells
Despite financial uncertainty, in 1505 work began on the belfry which would house a clock with thirteen chimes, the casting of which required 30,000 kilograms of bronze.[4] Cast by Geert van Wou, they form the largest existing homogenous group of medieval bells.[citation needed] The population was enraged at the expense of the project, resulting in the iconoclasm of 1566.[4] Today the bells are set in motion by the members of the Utrechts Klokkenluiders Gilde.[7] In 1664 a carillon was installed by Juriaan Sprakel of Zutphen,[8] with a mechanism consisting of 35 chimes,[4] made by the brothers Pieter and François Hemony.[8] In 1999 the carillon was restored and extended, making it Europe's largest. Its bourdon weighs 10,000 kilograms and has a diameter of 2.7metres (9 feet).[6]
[edit] Storm Damage
The cathedral's nave was never completely finished,[9] and in 1674 a fierce storm destroyed this part of the cathedral, but the tower was undamaged.[1] The remaining section of the church and the tower were never reconnected, and a street and Domplein square now separate the two structures. In the summer of 2004, however, a mock nave was constructed out of scaffolding to commemorate the missing link. The floorplan of the missing section is shown by the multicoloured paving of the square.[6]
In 1836 the top floor of the tower was heavily damaged in a storm. Demolition of the tower was seriously considered, however it was subsequently restored, which took five years.[4]
[edit] Tourism
The tower has its own visitor centre, RonDom, which is located in the square. As well as stocking a range of souvenirs,[10] 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.[1][4] 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.[4]
[edit] Radio DOM
Radio DOM was an automatic radio-station located on the Dom tower in Utrecht, which from June 4 1999 until October 3 1999 broadcast an audio 'soundscape' based on the sounds of the city of Utrecht. Radio DOM got its inputs from six computer-controlled surveillance microphones installed at a height of 80 metres on the Dom tower, which constantly scanned the central area of the city. The sound signals picked up by these microphones were algorithmically combined into a continuously varying soundscape which was broadcast 24 hours a day by an FM radio transmitter installed on the Dom tower.[11]
Broadcast on 102.3 MHz FM, Radio DOM was part of the exhibition Panorama 2000, organised by the Centraal Museum in Utrecht.[11]
[edit] Local Planning Restrictions
There is a rule that no buildings in the city of Utrecht are allowed to be constructed that exceed the Dom Tower in height.[citation needed] Recently however, this restriction has been lifted for plans in the developing suburban area in the west of Utrecht (Leidsche Rijn), and following that a skyscraper of 262 metres in height has been proposed, challenging this long-standing tradition.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Province Utrecht. Holland.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ Dom Tower. Trayle.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ Domtower History (translated from Dutch). Utrechts Klokkenluiders Gilde. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Domtoren/RonDom. UtrechtYourWay. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ a b Dom Tower. Holland.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ a b c Domtoren. Frommer's. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ UKG Activities (translated from Dutch. Utrechts Klokkenluiders Gilde. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ a b The Carillon: Playing Techniques. Essential Vermeer. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Domtower(translated from Dutch. hccnet.nl. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Domtoren Homepage (translated from Dutch). Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ a b Radio Dom. Institute of Artificial Art. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
