The visual pinnacle of Amersfoort is the Tower of Our Lady. Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren was part of a Catholic church when finished in 1470. The church was destroyed in 1787 when stored gunpowder exploded. Fortunately, the 322 foot Gothic spire survived. Adventurous tourists enjoy a panoramic view after climbing the 346 steps during a one hour tour. Interestingly, Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren was originally coordinate zero for the Dutch grid system. This is a means of measuring locations across the Netherlands. Established in 1885, the early form of GPS is also called Rijksdriehoeks or Amersfoort coordinates.
