De Gevangenpoort

After the construction of the court complex of the Counts of Holland was started in 1230, the predecessor of the current Prison Gate was created around 1280 as "Voorpoorte van den Hove". This front gate was renewed around 1370 and the "Prison Gate" got its current form. As a result of the reforms carried out by Philip the Good, the then front gate was used as a prison in 1428 for the detention of defaulters and suspects of crimes. Later political prisoners were also imprisoned, such as Cornelis de Witt.