The Martinitoren

In the past 500 years, Martinitoren burned down, lightning struck and it almost collapsed. Wars were won and lost on its doorstep. The tower held out and, at 97 metres, is still the city's tallest building. When you climb up here, you experience a piece of tangible history and a fantastic view.

Don't count on a lift. Climbing Martinitoren requires work. Not for nothing do most visitors spend more than an hour inside. But your work-out will be richly rewarded. Every few steps, you come face to face with the Martini Church's vaults, centuries-old ornaments, bellowing bells or giant flagpoles. At the first trans, you can go outside and walk around the tower at 39 metres.

Quite a few more steps up, you reach the clockwork attic. After those cramped, somewhat clammy passages, you experience a huge sense of space here. So between the clockwork dials, you can hear the seagulls above you and the people downstairs in the marketplace. You look out over the city and see the outskirts in the distance. And then it's time for the trek down. The muscle ache the next day is well worth it.

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