Koppelgate, Amersfoort, The netherlands

von Maarten Kost

Koppelpoort, Amersfoort, HDR
The Koppelpoort is a city gate in Amersfoort. It is a combination of a land and water gate. The name is probably derived from the Eastern Middle Dutch word coppel which means common meadow. The area outside the Koppelpoort was a common area. The name therefore does not indicate that the port has two functions.

The gate was built between 1380 and 1425 as part of the second city wall. [1] The entire wall was completed around 1450. The gate was attacked in 1427 during the siege of the city. This attack was repulsed.

The gate was opened and closed every day by wheel turners. The wheel turners (at least 12 people) were picked up in the morning and in the evening by several guards. It was a very dangerous job: If they didn't start walking at the same time, one could fall and drag the rest along, often fatal. Before the shot could go down, it had to be raised first to remove the iron pins that were in it. Only then could it go down. While the shot goes down, walking in the wheel becomes easier and faster, many people stumbled and broke limbs.

The Koppelpoort is included in the city walk of Gilde Amersfoort. Guests can move the shot themselves in the treadmill.

The Koppelpoort received its current status during the restoration by Pierre Cuypers in 1885 and 1886. Cuypers removed, among other things, a floor between the two gates and replaced it with tilting.

From 1969 to 1993 a puppet theater was located in the gate.
Koppelgate, Amersfoort