Oud-Rhenen / Cuneratoren

A tower that dominates the landscape

The Cuneratoren in Rhenen is one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the Gelderse Vallei. The tower stands apart from the church, which is rare in the Netherlands, and that gives it a peculiar, stately character. From the surrounding area it catches the eye from a long way off, like a beacon above the rooftops. As you walk into the old town centre, the proportions keep shifting. That interplay of streets, facades and the tower in the background makes Rhenen interesting for street and cityscape photography.

The light and the view

What makes this spot special is the view from around the tower towards the Rhine and the floodplains. At sunrise or sunset the landscape changes colour quickly. The morning light comes in from the east, which illuminates the Rhine valley nicely. In the evening, the golden hour falls right on the western face of the tower. That warm side light picks out the stonework and adds texture. A clear day with some cloud works well too: the sky above the floodplains gives depth to a wider landscape composition.

Compositions and focal lengths

With a telephoto lens, say 85mm or longer, you can isolate the tower above the roofline from the lower-lying streets. This works well in the late afternoon when the sun is low and the background stays darker. A wide angle, around 24mm or 28mm, is best used close to the tower itself, with the facade as the dominant element and the sky as a counterpoint. The Cunerakerk and the tower together fit in a single frame if you step back a little from the church square.

Practical

You can park in the centre of Rhenen or on the edge of town, with the tower within easy walking distance. The tower is sometimes open to visitors, offering views over the Rhine area and some interesting high-angle shots. Check opening times in advance. Early in the morning the town centre is quiet, which helps when shooting street scenes without distracting crowds. In autumn, the row of trees along the Rhine adds extra colour to landscape shots taken from the higher edge of town.

Sources and further reading

• Gemeente Rhenen
• Cunerakerk Rhenen
• Wikipedia: Cuneratoren