Rijksmonument Waterpoort Sneek uit 1613, Friesland Province, The Netherlands

5Andrea 5:00 PM Jun 9, 2017

Beautiful
You can't miss this when visiting Sneek! It's small but beautiful, especially on a sunny day :) Would have been nice to be able to read some info about it (but that's not there).

4Leo59 5:00 PM Mar 2, 2018

Typical, historical Watergate, one of the few remaining in the world!
Situated at the rim of the historic city center of Sneek, one of the famous 11 Friesian Cities, this true Watergate, originating in the early 17th century, is one of the very few watergates remaining in the world. It is the most iconic building of the city, much depicted in many ways. If the silhouet looks familiar to you, this might be because the famous sports clothing brand Gaastra, originating in Sneek, use it as their brand sign. It was used as a true city entrance gate for ships until the 19th century, with the gate keeper living in the building above the gate. The gate was close every night and opened early in the morning. Until the early 20th century waterways were far more important as ways for transport than roads were in these lowlands. During summer it's a great spot to watch the lively boating on the canal, waiting to pass the many bridges. Also as a shelter when it rains. During the summer season, the building is often open for visiting, sometimes with guided tours. Highly recommended, if you have the opportunity and are interested to learn more about the history and role of this unique and iconic watergate.