Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
2 days ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
3 days ago
Beneath downtown Minneapolis, Schieks Cave has surprisingly warm groundwater, evidence of a subterranean heat island.
Schieks Cave Below Minneapolis Contains a Lake of Warm Sewage
4 days ago
Athenaeus described various kinds of Greek drinking vessels, like the deep, rounded skyphos and wide, flat kylix.
The Ancient Greek Guide to Succeeding at Dinner Parties
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Netherlands Amersfoort Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (The Tower of Our Lady)
AO Edited

Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (The Tower of Our Lady)

At the base of this tower, a plaque marks the original center point of the Netherlands.

Amersfoort, Netherlands

Added By
jadecrookes
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren   Zairon/CC BY-SA 4.0
Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren   Zairon/CC BY-SA 4.0
  jadecrookes / Atlas Obscura User
  jadecrookes / Atlas Obscura User
From afar   jadecrookes / Atlas Obscura User
Middle-point of the Dutch grid system   I, Ceinturion/CC BY-SA 3.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

One can't help but marvel at the tower of Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (The Tower of Our Lady). Standing at a staggering 98.33 meters (322 feet), it looms high above Amersfoort. Indeed, you may see it sometimes peeking above buildings as you take a walk around the city. 

Completed in approximately 1470, the tower wasn't always alone. As you walk through Lieve Vrouwekerkhof, you may see where the foundations of the original church once stood, marked into the square. (The church that belonged to the tower was destroyed in the 18th century after a gunpowder explosion.) 

At the base of the tower, you can find the original middle point of the Dutch grid reference, the coordinate system used by the country's geographical service. This grid system was originally set up between 1885 and 1904, but an update in the mid-20th century adjusted the zero point to a new location southwest of the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren.

Related Tags

Churches Towers Landmarks Geographic Markers

Community Contributors

Added By

jadecrookes

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

January 10, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (The Tower of Our Lady)
30 Krankeledenstraat
Amersfoort, 3811 BN
Netherlands
52.155212, 5.387248
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Belgian Monument

Amersfoort, Netherlands

miles away

Plein Rond de Eik

Amersfoort, Netherlands

miles away

Lange Duinen

Soest, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Amersfoort

Amersfoort

Netherlands

Places 3

Nearby Places

Belgian Monument

Amersfoort, Netherlands

miles away

Plein Rond de Eik

Amersfoort, Netherlands

miles away

Lange Duinen

Soest, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Amersfoort

Amersfoort

Netherlands

Places 3

Related Places

  • The last surviving semaphore tower.

    Cobham, England

    Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower

    This five-story sentinel is the sole surviving semaphore tower in Britain.

  • Birkenhead Priory

    Birkenhead, England

    Birkenhead Priory

    The oldest standing building on Merseyside is special for its rich history as a Benedictine monastery and its unique connection to the origins of the Mersey Ferry.

  • St. Anne’s with two of its four clocks visible.

    Cork, Ireland

    The Four-Faced Liar

    On the clock tower at St. Anne's Church in Cork, you never know which face is telling the truth.

  • Palm Beach’s clock tower.

    Palm Beach, Florida

    Worth Avenue Clock Tower

    This 25-foot tall clock tower commemorates the start of one of America's foremost shopping districts and the end of the historic Palm Beach Pier.

  • The former Wyoming National Bank buildings, known locally as “the onion” and “the egg beater.”

    Casper, Wyoming

    The 'M' Building and Tower

    Locally known as the "Onion” and the "Egg Beater,” Casper’s most recognizable buildings are beloved local landmarks to many, and eyesores to others.

  • Bell tower at Church of the Holy Name

    Pune, India

    Church of the Holy Name

    This 19th-century church is famous for its iconic 130-foot tall bell tower with eight bells.

  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Allen-Bradley Clock Tower

    This was once the largest four-sided clock in the world (yes, even bigger than Big Ben).

  • An aerial view of Inishtrahull lighthouse on Inishtrahull Island.

    County Donegal, Ireland

    Inishtrahull

    Ireland's most northerly island is hauntingly beautiful. Its lighthouse was the last glimpse of home for many Irish emigrants bound for the U.S.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.