Gezicht op de Campveerse Toren te Veere c. 1890 - 1910

The Gebroeders van Straaten captured the Campveerse Toren at Veere through the lens of a camera. The tower, a steadfast structure against the water, is the prominent symbol of the city’s resilience and historical importance as a trade center. Consider the motif of the tower itself. It rises not just as a building but as a representation of human ambition, security, and dominance over nature. We see its echoes throughout history, from the Tower of Babel in ancient myths—a symbol of reaching for the divine—to the defensive towers in medieval fortifications. Each iteration reflects humanity’s aspirations and fears, rendered in stone and brick. Reflect upon the tower, how it stands as a silent witness to the passage of time. It reminds us of the cyclical nature of history, where symbols resurface, laden with the emotional and psychological residues of generations past.