A monument for the over-ambitious
Island Stories #11: A small city wanted to build the highest church tower.
I don't know if anyone in the world has ever created a monument for failed ambitions, but the 'Fat Tower' of Zierikzee might be a good candidate for such a title. Although The Saint-Livinus Monster Tower dominates the skyline of Zierikzee, this says more about the humble houses of most inhabitants than about the tower's 62 meters.
Nobody knows the full ambitions of the 15th-century people of Zierikzee who started the construction. Some have speculated that the tower should have reached about 180 to 200 meters, making it the tallest church tower in the world. However, new calculations of the tower's crowning design show that it should have been about 130 meters high. That is still 20 meters higher than the highest church tower in the Netherlands, the Utrecht Dom Tower.
The tower's construction started in 1454, but by 1510 there were no more funds left to complete it. As it was eventually realized, the cost of the tower amounted to approximately 100,000 guilders, a very high sum for that time. Several million bricks were used that came from Dordrecht, Rotterdam, and Gouda. In addition, the outside of the tower was clad in expensive natural stone. The small white blocks of sandy limestone come from the region north and east of Brussels.
Over time, the unfinished tower lost much of its beauty. Numerous decorations disappeared, especially in the 18th century. Then, during the last year of the Second World War, the south side of the tower was heavily damaged by Allied artillery, which fired from liberated island Noord-Beveland. The Allies knew that the Germans used this high spot to watch the Allies approach.
After the war, the tower was restored, and it is difficult to imagine driving to Zierikzee without seeing from far the recognizable silhouette of the fat tower. But I always try to imagine what it would have looked like if that tower would be more than twice, or even three times, its height. Of course, it is a monument for too much ambition, but I wouldn't want to see it in any other shape than I have known it all my life.
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Notes:
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Lievensmonstertoren
Seems mans’ ambitions often are difficult to bring to reality. It always amazes me the amount of money that such ambitions cost while much of the populace struggles just to survive. Although this tower remains even if not completed, it is a monument to the ambitions of those of are no longer here.
Sad that it was used as a lookout for German troops but it still managed to survive and serve as a landmark. Thanks for the history, drawings, and photo of the tower. Also enjoyed the article.
Another part of history that I would not have known except for that.
What an extraordinary endeavor . . .
Some day I would like to see it on the inside (-:
You raised my curiosity and I read about Saint Livinus's history
Thank you