The Father Vinck Tower

This tower was built to defend the water gate at the Jeker river as part of the second city wall. The construction was completed around the year 1370 - 1380. But fell into disrepair after the third city wall was built in 1516. In 1880 only the bottom half of the tower had been preserved in a ruinous state. The tower was restored in a romantic style in 1906, hereafter it was named after Father Servatius Vinck, this was a Franciscan father who was accused of involvement in an attempted treason in 163. This was the case during "the Eighty Years' War" with Spain. At the time of the siege of Parma of the city "the betrayal of Maastricht" took place. A conspiracy was then forged by about twenty inhabitants to let the Spaniards conquer Maastricht.Twenty inhabitants were arrested of which 9 inhabitants were tried. Father Vinck was also found guilty and was put to death on the basis of high treason. It is said that the father had to wait in this tower for his execution.
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