Mouse towers in Leerdam

The fact that Leerdam has traditionally been a fortified town is still clearly evident from the beautiful Zuidwal with its ‘mouse towers’. The city wall, with its four gates, was probably built in the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century. The bases of the ‘mouse towers’ were also constructed around that time. The bases of the turrets protected the wall against shifting ice and the water of the River Linge. And in times of war, cannons were placed on the ‘Muizentorentjes’ to defend the town.

But where does the name 'Muizentorentjes' come from? Around 1837, an unloading wharf was installed and the remains of the old and dilapidated wall towers were used to build three houses. But no one dared to live in the wall towers. This was because the enemy could enter your house across the water. This left the towers deserted... This helped mice and rats to live in these towers. Hence the name: Mouse Towers.

Today, these turrets are still inhabited or in use. For instance, one of the turrets houses a cosy and snug coffee & tea house.