| Martinitoren | |
|---|---|
 The Martinitoren | |
| Location | |
| Location | Groningen, Netherlands |
| Geographic coordinates | 53°13′09″N 6°34′05″E / 53.21921°N 6.5680°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Church tower |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1469 |
| Completed | 1482 |
| Height (max) | 96.8 m (317.59 ft)[1] |
The Martinitoren (Dutch pronunciation: [mɑrˈtinitoːrə(n)]; Martini or St. Martin's Tower) is the tallest church steeple in the city of Groningen, Netherlands, and the bell tower of the Martinikerk.[2][3]
The tower is located at the north-eastern corner of the Grote Markt (Main Market Square). It contains a brick spiral staircase consisting of 260 steps, and the carillon within the tower contains 62 bells. The tower is one of the main tourist attractions of Groningen and offers a view over the city and surrounding area. The front of the tower shows three pictures above the entrance: the blind poet Bernlef, Saint Martinus, and Rudolf Agricola. All three men are linked to the history of Groningen. The tower is tilting about 0.6 m.[4] According to reports[citation needed], the tower has a foundation of only three metres deep. The citizens of Groningen call their tower d'Olle Grieze, meaning the old grey one in the local dialect.
- ^ (in Dutch) Description of building on the official website of the church
- ^ "martinikerk.nl".
- ^ "De Martinitoren in Groningen". Archived from the original on 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^ "zoeken - nrc.nl". nrc.nl. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2011-01-20.