'Lies against history?'

During the twentieth century a great many monumental towers and tower terminations were so severely damaged by fire, tempest or war that question arose as to whether, if how, they should be rebuilt. Should it in exact same form before destruction, some other solution sought? In latter case, was return an earlier (putative) original version preferable something new? And latter, one opt for contemporary architecture, more historicizing formal idiom desirable?
 To what extent guideline embraced 1917 government department responsible cultural heritage (Rijksbureau voor de Monumentenzorg), which stipulated architectural style additions interests of historical honesty, actually followed practice? localities themselves there preference restoration old state, did eventually occur number cases. On basis twenty examples, this article looks first time at whether any clear trend can discerned choices made. Of special importance context are five design competitions (for town hall Leiden visually defining church Arnhem, Zutphen, Hulst Weert), because specific requirements could laid down brief, after jury required choose from among series entries publicly substantiate its preference.
 The need rebuild always given, even if, when entire had been destroyed war, not enjoy highest priority. Entirely medieval like Martini Church Doesburg, greatest chance being rebuilt form. If Gothic termination Renaissance, Baroque Classicist style, decision often informed aesthetic judgement: St Stephen’s Nijmegen considered characteristic, Eusebius’ Arnhem not. Abbey Tower Middelburg largely reinstated but modified accommodate demand larger carillon. practice dividing line lay middle seventeenth century; later tended too unremarkable.
 Neo-Gothic spires atop replaced. Sometimes reconstruction (free otherwise) older Renaissance such Christopher’s Cathedral Roermond; cases with modern, wholly new termination, Willibrord’s Hulst, slightly one, Martinus’ Weert. Even though undamaged cast iron spire James’s Hague replaced harked back sixteenth-century spire.
 case towers, option never really tried (needle) spire, either realized, lack reliable information. Only Walburgis’s Zutphen considered, end decided fire-ravaged ‘pepper pot’ spire.