Archaeologists involved in the extensive renovation of the Binnenhof, the historic heart of Dutch governance situated in The Hague, have unearthed the base of a medieval city gate. This significant 13th-century structure, historically known as the Spuipoort, once served as the principal access point to the residence of a powerful count. The recently recovered remnants are slated to be incorporated into the newly designed public entrance of the Tweede Kamer structure, offering visitors an immersive temporal transition as they enter the contemporary parliamentary building.
The Spuipoort was initially erected around 1352, featuring two slender, circular towers linked by a central archway. These gates were a component of the Binnenhof estate’s comprehensive defensive layout, which also included twin moats and reinforced entryways. During the 15th century, the original round towers were supplanted by octagonal constructions, erected upon the very same solid foundations. Despite the gate’s eventual demolition in 1861 to facilitate urban expansion, its subterranean elements have remained remarkably intact and are now coming to light.
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