Schreierstoren (Weeper's Tower), Amsterdam

The stout Schreierstoren, located just a short distance from Saint Nicholas Church, stands as a rare surviving fragment of Amsterdam's medieval fortifications, erected in the 15th century with the primary aim of safeguarding the city. Originally, this tower had a vantage point over the River IJ, and legend has it that it served as a spot where women would gather to bid farewell to their departing loved ones. However, like many captivating tales, this story appears to be more fiction than fact. The name "Schreierstoren" is believed to be derived from the sharp angle at which the tower was constructed, rather than any association with weeping women.

Nevertheless, a weathered stone plaque embedded in the tower wall serves as a reminder of these supposed sorrowful farewells. It should be noted that some argue that the woman depicted on the stone is not a weeping woman but rather a representation of a virgin, symbolizing the city of Amsterdam itself. Additionally, another more recent plaque commemorates the departure of Henry Hudson from this very location in the year 1609. During this significant voyage, Hudson chanced upon the "Hudson" River and an island known by the locals as Manhattan. The settlement that arose there eventually became known as New Amsterdam, a colonial possession that was only renamed New York after it was seized by the English in 1664.