Renovation work on the Binnenhof parliamentary complex in The Hague has turned up remnants of an early 14th-century city gate.
The find adds another chapter to “the rich history of the Binnenhof,” archeologist Peter Stokkel told broadcaster NOS.
The Binnenhof of two centuries ago was surrounded by canals and gates, with the newly discovered Spuipoort access on the edge of an outer canal.
“The Binnenhof was the centre of power, so only the elite came through this gate,” Stokkel said. The gate was changed throughout the centuries until it was pulled down in 1861, leaving only the foundations.
The big medieval bricks used to build the foundations will be used in the new entrance to the complex.
“How cool is it to integrate the last gate into the new gate. To us as city archaeologists, this is very special indeed,” Stokker said.
Work on the Binnenhof is expected to be finished in 2031 following several delays, including one caused by parakeets.
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