Several designs were made for the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk (North Church) in Gothic style.Although the Gothic style was considered to be old fashioned by the middle of the 17th century, a gothic design was chosen for reasons of harmony. This design was never uses though and the chosen design was never completed. In the first phase of construction it was already clear that the foundation piles wouldn't be able to support the tower. Work has stopped. Most of the incomplete tower was demolished in 1783 but enough survived for us to know that building did continue after the foundation stone was laid in 1647.