If you have the opportunity you should definitively climb the tower. It will take some effort but, once on top, the view is magnificent. You can overlook the whole of Brielle and the isle of Voorne. When the weather is fine, you can see the Maas estuary and Europoort.

The 318 steps show that many people preceeded you, among them Mary Stuart when she wove good bye to her husband Prince Willem III .  He was en route to England with Philips van Almonde's fleet to become king.

You pass the rope attic, where the bell-ropes hang to ring the bells manually. It is the domain of the "Bellringers society".  Century old logs support the bellcradles. A bit higher is the bell attic with the three large bells of which the Butendiic from 1482 is the largest. It weighs 4750 kg. You also find the carillon on this attic.

The tower received a clockwork in 1578, six years after capture by the waterbeggars. The chimes consisted of 12 bells. Not before around 1600 it became possible to sound the bells manually and one could speak of a real carillon.  In 1660 the bells were replaced by a new set made by François Hemony. The Hemony-bells are the base of the present carillon. In 1971 the carillon was extended.  Now it consists of 47 bells. The "Friends of the carillon" can tell you all about them.

Once on top of the tower you see Brielle in full colour. You see the remparts, the streets where admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp grew up, but also the Maas estuary and the Voorne dunes.