In short
The Schreierstoren stands close to Amsterdam Centraal, beside the meeting of the Geldersekade and the old harbour edge. Its rounded brick exterior, steep roof and compact shape make it easy to distinguish from the much larger buildings around it. This was once part of a continuous defensive system, rather than an isolated picturesque tower.
It is also associated with one of Amsterdam’s best-known naming legends: the Tower of Tears. The story of women watching sailors depart is memorable, but the name is linked to a sharp corner in the city wall. A short exterior visit gives you both a surviving piece of medieval Amsterdam and a useful reminder to separate history from folklore.
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Schreierstoren access and visiting information
Looking at the Schreierstoren from public streets is free. The building is not presented here as a public observation tower or a museum with a standard admission route. Any business, private room or event inside has its own arrangements; do not treat those as general access to the monument.
Hours
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Exterior Public streets
No admission reservation needed to view outside
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Architecture details Daylight recommended
Choose a safe pavement position
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Interior Separate arrangements
No general tower-climbing route is assumed
Prices
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View the exterior Free
The monument can be seen from public space
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Optional city activities Separate bookings
Guided walks, audio tours and cruises do not include tower admission
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Private rooms or events Check conditions
Do not assume that a booking opens the entire historic building
Details to notice at the harbour tower
Walk around the publicly accessible sides to compare the tower’s outward-facing curve with its city-facing side. Look above eye level for the roofline, traces of its defensive form and the ship-shaped weather vane. Use crossings carefully: the location is close to a busy station approach.
The rounded harbour-facing wall Medieval survival
The curved outer face reflects the tower’s defensive role. Compare it with the flatter side that faced into the city.
The roof and upper outline
Look at the compact body and pointed roof as separate elements. Later alterations are part of the building’s long history.
The ship-shaped weather vane
When the light allows, look for the vessel above the roof. It connects the tower’s silhouette with Amsterdam’s maritime identity.
The naming legend
Remember the difference between the sharp-corner explanation and the story of weeping women. The setting makes the legend powerful without turning it into fact.
Geldersekade and the old waterfront
Follow the canal perspective away from the station. The tower becomes easier to understand when seen as part of a wider harbour landscape.
Planning your Schreierstoren stop
The Schreierstoren is an easy stop at the beginning or end of a historic-centre walk. It is most rewarding when you allow a little time to look at its form and imagine the former harbour, rather than treating it as a large indoor attraction.
Best moment
Daylight for details and a clearer sense of the setting
Crowds
Busy station-side streets and crossings
With children
Keep the stop short and supervise near traffic and water
Look for
Curved wall, steep roof and ship weather vane
Suggested duration
15–25 minutes for an exterior stop
What to expect
A historic building in an active city setting
How to visit the Schreierstoren
Allow around 15–25 minutes for the exterior, details and harbour-side context. Approach from Prins Hendrikkade, then look towards the Geldersekade to understand why this corner mattered. Viewing the building from public space is free.
The private historical walk and smartphone audio tour below list the Weeping Tower among their stops; the open-boat cruise lists Café the Schreiertower as a pass-by sight. The audio tour is self-guided, while the historical walk has a live guide. These optional activities do not include interior admission to the tower. Check the selected meeting point and itinerary before booking; boat routes may change.
Historical Highlights Walking Tour with private local Dutch guide
Amsterdam Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone
Amsterdam: Luxury Canal Cruise including Cocktails & Snacks
Good to know
- The exterior is free to view. Do not assume access to every room inside.
- The Tower of Tears story is a legend, not the accepted explanation of the tower’s name.
- Keep station approaches, entrances and narrow pavement sections clear.
- Check any current business or event arrangements separately if planning to enter.
Practical tips
- Compare the rounded and flatter sides rather than photographing only the roof.
- Look for the ship-shaped weather vane if visibility allows.
- Use the stop to begin a walk along Geldersekade towards Nieuwmarkt.
- Keep children close near traffic and open water; choose a safe place to pause.
Find the tower near Amsterdam Centraal
The tower stands at Prins Hendrikkade 94–95, southeast of Amsterdam Centraal. From the station, use the signed pedestrian crossings rather than taking a direct line through cycle traffic. The Geldersekade offers a walking connection into the old centre and towards Nieuwmarkt.
Allow approximately 5–10 minutes on foot from Amsterdam Centraal, depending on your exit and the pedestrian crossings.
Centraal is the most useful interchange for this stop. Check current GVB services and station exits before travelling.
Follow the Geldersekade towards Nieuwmarkt. Allow roughly 10–15 minutes from De Waag or 15–20 minutes from the Rembrandt House Museum, excluding stops.
Prins Hendrikkade 94–95, 1012 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands
Official Transport in Barcelona
City walls, harbour history and a famous legend
The Schreierstoren belongs to Amsterdam’s late-fifteenth-century stone defences. The municipal archive dates it to 1487. Its outward-facing curved wall and flatter city side reflected a practical role at the edge of the fortified city, overlooking the harbour approaches.
The waterfront has changed considerably since then. What now looks like a small tower beside a busy street once stood in a very different relationship with the water, bridges and city wall. Reading it as a surviving fragment of a larger system makes more sense than imagining it was designed as a stand-alone attraction.
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The building has been altered repeatedly. The national heritage register identifies later changes to its crown and spire, so the present silhouette should not be described as an entirely untouched medieval design. Its long life combines surviving defensive fabric with adaptation.
The popular story says that sailors’ wives wept here as ships left for uncertain voyages. The municipal explanation instead connects the original name Schreyhoekstoren with the sharp angle of the wall. A stone dated 1569, showing a woman and a departing ship, helped encourage the romantic interpretation. The maritime setting is real; the naming story needs that distinction.
A small part of the tower’s story even reaches Chicago. Stones associated with the Schreierstoren were incorporated into the Tribune Tower, whose collection brings together fragments from historic places. There they were labelled Tower of Tears, showing how the legend travelled beyond Amsterdam.
The Tower of Tears and other curiosities
- The ship-shaped weather vane recalls a cog, a vessel linked with Amsterdam’s historic city imagery.
- The name refers to a corner in the old wall; the crying-sailors’-wives explanation belongs to folklore.
- A 1569 wall stone helped keep the emotional version of the story alive.
- Stones from the Schreierstoren form part of the Tribune Tower’s historic-fragment collection in Chicago.
Hidden churches and walks through the old town
Stay near the old harbour
Staying near Prins Hendrikkade or Amsterdam Centraal can be practical for rail connections and walking into the old centre. Compare noise reviews and the route from the station, especially with luggage. The map below is centred on the Schreierstoren; accommodation prices and availability depend on the dates you choose.
Schreierstoren: practical questions
What is the Schreierstoren?
It is a surviving late-medieval tower from Amsterdam’s city-wall defences, near the old harbour and today’s Amsterdam Centraal station.
When was it built?
The municipal archive dates the tower to 1487. It has been altered several times, so the present roofline and additions should not all be treated as original medieval fabric.
Why is it called the Tower of Tears?
The name became associated with a legend about women watching sailors depart. The municipal explanation links the earlier name Schreyhoekstoren to the sharp angle of the city wall.
Do you need a ticket?
No ticket is needed to view the exterior from public streets. Museum offers on this page are separate visits and do not include tower admission.
Can you climb the Schreierstoren?
Do not plan a regular public observation-tower climb. Any access inside depends on the current use of the building and specific arrangements.
Where is the tower?
It is at Prins Hendrikkade 94–95, near the Geldersekade, a short walk southeast of Amsterdam Centraal.
How long should I spend here?
Around 15–25 minutes is a useful estimate for an exterior visit, with time to look at the architectural details and the waterfront setting.
Is it suitable for an outdoor walking route?
Yes. It can be included in a route between Centraal, Geldersekade and Nieuwmarkt. Allow extra time at crossings and keep clear of traffic and cyclists.
