A Place That Didn't Exist
Look out over Amersfoort as it was in 1671, from a vantage point that didn't actually exist.
Read moreCity Views from the Napoleon Era
Amersfoort under French rule
Between 1806 and 1813, Amersfoort was part of the French Empire. Napoleon never visited the city, but his influence was felt everywhere. Drawings and prints from that period offer a unique window onto the city under French rule.
New laws, new order
French rule brought sweeping changes. New taxes, conscription and a centrally organised administration replaced the old guilds and city rights. Many Amersfoort residents experienced the occupation as oppressive.
Artists as eyewitnesses
Several draughtsmen recorded the city during this period. Their work shows the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren, the Koppelpoort and the busy market. Some buildings have since disappeared; these prints are their only visual legacy.
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Napoleon visited Amersfoort in 1811. The city hoped for a historic moment, but the emperor was mostly in a hurry.
Read moreThe Man Who Saved the Tower
A fierce bolt of lightning set the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren ablaze. Carpenter Lenaart Nicasiusz saved the city from disaster.
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