AMERSFOORT  , a

town in the province of Utrecht, Holland, on the navigable Eem, and a junction station 14 M. by rail N.E. by E. of Utrecht . Pop . (1900) 19,089 . It is situated in the midst of picturesque and undulating country, consisting of wide sandy heaths and woods, and dotted with many fine country houses . One of the most interesting of its few historic monuments is the Koppelpoort, an old gateway situated at the end of a fine avenue of trees bordering the canal . Close by is a lofty Gothic tower (rsoo), which belonged to the ancient church of St Mary, which was wrecked by an explosion of gunpowder in 1787 . The large plain church of St George dates from the first half of the 13th century . There is also a Jansenist church, to which a seminary is attached . Besides these there are a town hall, a court of primary jurisdiction, industrial and other schools . Amersfoort has a large garrison, consisting chiefly of artillery, and manufactures woollen goods, cotton, silk, glass and brandy . It has also a considerable trade in tobacco, grown in the neighbourhood, and in corn and fish .