The 15th-century tower that dominates the centre of Monnickendam was originally a church tower; it now houses a small museum devoted to the history of carillons and bells. The tower's own carillon dates from 1596, and every half hour a parade of small figures emerges to strike the bell — one of the few medieval automata of this kind still working in the Netherlands.
The museum inside explains the mechanics of carillons and the history of bell-ringing, with a collection of bells, documentation, and tools. It is modest in scale but well-curated, and the tower itself is worth climbing for the views over the Markermeer and the surrounding polder landscape. Admission is inexpensive and the museum makes a good focal point for a visit to the town.