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Reinforcement at IJssel Bridge Kampen

Information sign text:
From about 1470 to 1732, the Lion Tower, a huge freestanding bastion, stood here. In 1477 Kampen received two live lions from Lisbon that were housed here. This shows how far Kampen's trade relations stretched during the Hanseatic period.
In the 16th century, the lions are probably dead. Costs for their maintenance were no longer mentioned. In turn, Kampen later gave two young lions to Lübeck, which were displayed there until the 18th century.
The guns behind the parapet of the tower protected the trading quay and the traffic over the bridge.
In the wall of this building are two narrow openings that served as loopholes until World War II to attack enemies on the bridge. This small fortification had the same task as the former Lion Tower.

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Source

  • Text: TracesOfWar
  • Photos: Maarten Hoedeman

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