fountainklokken

Fountainklokken, or fountain clocks, are timekeeping devices integrated into fountains or water features, in which the display of time is linked to the movement of water. The simplest forms show a clock face mounted on a basin or pedestal, with the water features serving as an ornament or as a functional part of the mechanism. More elaborate examples use hydraulics to drive the clock or to actuate figures and jets at specific hours, so that the water display marks the passing of time as well as the clock hands.

Historically, fountain clocks emerged in Europe in the early modern period, as garden and court landscapes combined engineering, hydraulics, and horology. Some were built by clockmakers in collaboration with hydraulics specialists, using water pressure, siphons, or water wheels to power components of the mechanism. In later periods, electric or spring-driven clocks took over, while water jets or automata remained central to the spectacle.

Today, fountain clocks are primarily of historical and decorative interest. Many survive as preserved features in historic gardens, museums, or city squares, and some contemporary designers recreate the concept as art installations that harmonize timekeeping with water play. The term is largely descriptive and varies by language; similar devices may be classified under hydraulic clocks or water clocks in broader horology literature.