Herman Saftleven, Wittevrouwenpoort in Utrecht, 1646

by Atelier Liesjes

The Wittevrouwenpoort, built around 1230, was from the Middle Ages onwards one of the four entrances to the city of Utrecht via city gates. The gate was situated on the north-east side of the present inner city on the Wittevrouwenensingel where the Wittevrouwen bridge is today. The gate was named after the Wittevrouwen convent which was situated nearby in the Middle Ages and which also gave its name to the current Utrecht neighbourhood Wittevrouwen. In contrast to the present-day neighbourhood, the convent was located within the old city walls.

In 1649, probably for fiscal and police reasons, it was decided to renew the city gate; Hendrik Aertsz. Struys made the design for the building, which was crowned by Pieter Post.

Around 1858 the Wittevrouwenpoort was demolished. A new building, 44 Wittevrouwenstraat, arose on the site. In the new building, built by contractor J. van der Lip, the clock ("Odulphus") from the former Wittevrouwenpoort, cast in 1554 by Jan Tolhuys, was hung on the roof in the square tower. The new building served as a Commisisoner's House and later, for a long time, as a police station.

Herman Saftleven (Rotterdam, Holland, Netherlands 1609 - Utrecht, buried 5 January 1685) was a Dutch painter, engraver and draughtsman.