Willemstad (Netherlands)

Found in the centre of the fortified city, the Koepelkerk was the first church of the Netherlands built with the intention of being a Protestant church. The church was completed in 1607 after ten years of construction. The church organ was donated by Prince William V of Orange-Nassau in 1773. Due to a fire in 1950 that saw most of the interior go up in flames, most of the church's modern interior was acquired from nearby cities.

Completed in 1587, the town hall initially also functioned as a church while the Koepelkerk was still under construction. Its construction was funded by Prince Maurice of Orange. Its tower still has its original large bell, which was seised by the occupier during World War II, but was never molten down. It was hung back in the tower in 1945, and originally dates from the end of the 12th century, making it the oldest still-existing bell of North Brabant. The building's tower's roof was demolished during French rule, and a Chappe-semafore was fitted in its place. In 1815, this change was undone. The town hall lost its function to the Mauritshuis in 1973, which functioned as the town hall until 1997.

The defence works of Willemstad were created several years after the city's founding. Following the Duke of Parma's campaign into the Dutch Republic in 1583, much of this area was found to be easily conquerable, giving the Dutch Republic a need to further fortify this area, and to protect Dutch shipping on the Hollandsch Diep. Originally, the defence works consisted of five bastions. The two found to its south were added later on, upon the ending of the Twelve Years' Truce (1621). Access to the city could be gained through two gates, the Landpoort and Waterpoort. Both of these have now been demolished. In 1747, the defence works were further expanded with two forts to the south of the city. Only in 1922 did all these lose their military significance.

The third weapons arsenal to be built in Willemstad, right by the Waterpoort. Since 1973, the former arsenal is an event venue. Two cannons are found on either side of the building. To its right stands the guard house that would have accompanied the Waterpoort.

Built in 1623 as a retreat for Prince Maurice of Orange, the Mauritshuis only belonged to him for two years. Upon his death in 1625, the house became owned by the governor of Willemstad. It suffered damages during French rule in the Netherlands, and was restored in a slightly smaller size in 1823. Not much later a military hospital became housed in the building. From 1907 to 1956, the building served as barracks. When the city acquired the building in 1967, it was restored to its original size, and became the city's town hall in 1973. The building nowadays is an information centre for the Zuiderwaterlinie, the southern defence line running from Sluis to Nijmegen. In the attic, a large exhibition of the local historical society can be viewed. From time to time, the building is also used as a wedding venue.