Netherlands Vischmarkt, Harderwijk

The Vischpoort at the edge of the Vischmarkt is one of Harderwijk's most distinctive medieval remnants. Dating back to the late 14th century, it is the city’s only surviving city gate and originally connected the fortified town with the waterfront. A coastal light was added on top in 1851, giving the gate its distinctive tower-like appearance.

The tree-lined approach from the Vischmarkt creates a particularly nice view, with the brick gate naturally framed by greenery.

I used a telephoto lens for this composition, shooting along the Vischmarkt toward the Vischpoort. The longer focal length compresses the avenue of trees around the gate and makes the historic brick façade appear much more dominant in the frame.

The two large trees work perfectly as a natural frame, while including a person beneath the arch adds scale and a little life to the scene. Overcast or softly lit conditions work particularly well here because they keep the contrast between the dark foliage and brickwork manageable.

The Vischpoort is located at the end of the Vischmarkt in Harderwijk's historic center, right beside the former waterfront. The old town is compact and best explored on foot, so this spot pairs easily with the harbor, city walls, and other historic streets.

For this exact composition, walk onto the Vischmarkt and move away from the gate until the trees begin to form a symmetrical frame around it. A 70–200mm lens gives you plenty of flexibility to compress the scene from farther back and fine-tune the alignment of the trees, arch, and lighthouse structure.