The Walburgis Tower

In the 11th century, the Bishop of Utrecht had a Romanesque church built in Zutphen based on the Utrecht model. Between 1225 and 1265, the first three storeys of the tower were constructed. In the 14th century, the present bell chamber was created and six bells were installed for the first time. On Palm Sunday in 1446, the tower was struck by lightning and burned down, destroying the bells. In the 16th century, the medieval spire was lost to fire. Between 1633 and 1637, a new Baroque spire was built. The Hemony brothers melted down several bells to cast two new ones; since then, four bells have hung in the tower.

Between 1920 and 1925, the entire tower was restored. Twenty years later, German forces blew up the stair turret to prevent Canadian troops from ascending the tower. During restoration works in 1948, a fire broke out and the tower was once again gutted.

The bells

The bells are rung on Saturdays at 18:00 as the beginning of Sunday and, depending on the period in the church year, in various combinations on Sundays and religious feast days. They also sound during funeral and wedding services. Only on King’s Day and all major religious holidays are all six bells rung. The bells are rung by members of the Saint Walburga bell-ringers’ guild. You can assist with this free of charge; donations are appreciated. Please register 15 minutes in advance at the foot of the tower.

The Angelus bell (officially the Paternoster bell) sounds during services at the Lord’s Prayer, daily at 12:01 and 17:01 (times corresponding to the medieval canonical hours of None and Vespers), and on Fridays at 15:01 to commemorate the day and hour of Christ’s death.