Koppelpoort

The Koppelpoort is a medieval gate in Amersfoort. It was constructed in 1427 as part of the second city wall. The poort is a sublime example of medieval defensive architecture, and still is a combination of a land and water-gate. In the same year of construction (1427) the city was attackted. When the men defented the city, also the women threw hot beer from the Koppelpoort and the enemy was pushed back. Later it became more usefull as watergate for the Amers (later called Eems) river. When the defence walls were broken down in 1840 it was expected the Koppelpoort also lost his function. But Amersfoort decided to keep the old gate and restaured it in 1886. The last restaurations in 1996 were so succesfull the Koppelpoort was won the Europe Nostra Award, because during the restaurations almost every character of the medieval gate was preserved.