THE HERRING TOWER, AMSTERDAM.

THIS picturesque tower was erected in the year 1605 uponthe site of an ancient round building, called the Tower of theHoly-Cross. It takes its name from being the place where thecompany of herring-fishers hold their office for regulating thatimportant and lucrative branch of the commerce of Amsterdam.The upper part of the tower is octagonal, standing upon acircular basement story, and the whole is surmounted by anopen cupola, which was placed over it in 1815, when thetower was repaired and lowered a few feet.

The old range of houses contiguous, all built in theDutch style, leaning considerably forwards, adds much tothe picturesque appearance of this place which, with the ad-joining port, is always a scene of great bustle aud activity.