Boekentoren

The Boekentoren (Dutch for Book Tower) is a famous building located in Ghent, Belgium, designed by the Belgian architect Henry van de Velde.

Situated on the highest ground in the city, the site offered the architect a unique opportunity to give to Ghent its fourth tower, not for the ringing of bells this time, but for books.

With its height of 64 metres (210 ft), the book tower reaches out to the sky above Ghent alongside its (late) mediaeval predecessors to mark the city skyline and to put the university visibly on the map.

The famous three towers of the Middle Ages: the Saint-Nicolas Church, the Belfry and the Saint Bavo Cathedral and the modernist Booktower.

The then rector Andre De Leenheer, took on the difficult job of finding University money and other funding for the full restoration.

The animalier Greta Van Puyenbroeck created the unique image for which a smooth-haired fox terrier served as a model.