Today Amersfoort is a small city in the Netherlands that few tourists know. But in the 15-16th centuries, Amersfoort was thronged with life because it became one of the main pilgrimage centres in the country. Why? Because in 1444, after seeing a dream, a local woman found a statue of the Virgin Mary shortly before Christmas. Everyone took it as a miracle, and thousands of pilgrims went towards the figure.

The statue was installed in an old chapel. But a month later, it became clear that it is too small to accommodate everyone who wanted to see the miraculous Virgin Mary. That’s why they began the construction of a new large temple with a giant bell tower named the Tower of Our Lady.
Unfortunately, the exact year of construction is unknown. But according to the historians’ suggestion, the church was completed in 1460, and the tower was erected in 1470.

After the church passed into the hands of the Protestants, it was used in many ways. It was a warehouse for storing weapons, a laboratory for developing and producing shells. They did everything here except what is required for the designated use. It led to the loss of the temple: in 1787, the laboratory exploded, and the church collapsed. Luckily, the chapel remained unharmed and has excellently preserved to this day.

There have also survived twelve curious bas-reliefs on the tower. Among all the famous personalities depicted on them, you can see Bishop of Utrecht Hendrik van Vianden, who served in the city in 1259, Margriet Gijsen, who found the statue of the Virgin Mary, and the city carpenter Lenaert Nicasius, who saved the tower spire in 1650 when a bolt of lightning hit it.

Today the Tower of Our Lady is a historic city centre. You won't miss it as the structure height is 98 metres. Citizens jokingly call this landmark Long John.