Martinitoren - Groningen

In the very centre of Groningen, it towers above the city: the Martini Tower, the symbol of Groningen pride for centuries. Today, at over 96 metres, it is the city's tallest tower, but that has not always been the case. The first tower on this site was built in the 13th century and only reached 30 metres into the sky. It was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1408.

Its successor, a construction made partly of wood and partly of stone, did not last long either: lightning struck again in 1465, causing it to collapse. The current tower, completed in the 15th century, is said to have once been 127 metres high. Historians put it at around 102 metres.

The tower not only served as a beacon and a bell tower, but also played a role in the city's history. When the Spaniards left Groningen in 1577, pitch-oil barrels were set alight on the tower in triumph. The fire caused great damage; only 69 metres of the tower remained standing. It was not until 1627, after years of war, that the restoration could be completed.

Since then, the ‘d'Olle Grieze’, as it is popularly known, has been watching over the city and its surroundings imperturbably.