Goedereede Lighthouse
Goedereede Lighthouse has a tower height of 5 metres. It was built in 1467.
- Tower height
- 5 metres
- Built
- 1467
- Coordinates
- 51.81842, 3.97576
The Goedereede Lighthouse, also known as the Toren van Goedereede, is located in Goedereede, Netherlands. It was built in 1512 as a part of a large parish church in the then-prosperous fishing and trading port. The tower stands at 39.5 meters high and is made of gray square brick.
Initially, the tower served as a landmark to help ships navigate, but from 1552 to 1912, it functioned as a lighthouse with various changes during this period. The light originally came from an open coal fire, but it was later equipped with optics and rotating optics with a light intensity of 180,000 candlepower. The lighthouse was extinguished in 1912 when the West Head Lighthouse in Ouddorp came into use.
Today, the tower has been restored and is a museum housing a carillon of 45 bells that can be played either mechanically or by hand. The carillon was inaugurated in 1978 and has been extended several times since then. The tower was designated a national monument in 1967 and has undergone significant restoration work. The museum showcases the history of the tower and the town of Goedereede, offering a glimpse into its rich past.
Details
- Year Built
- 1467–1512, lighthouse since 1834
- Description
- Goederede went into a long decline, losing trade to better-sited ports. There were insufficient funds to maintain the church. In 1706 the dilapidated building was pulled down, but the tower was preserved. In 1823, the spire of the church was removed to improve use of the tower as a lighthouse. On 26 February 1834 a high light with optics was installed. The optics were replaced in 1879. In 1908 the tower was equipped with rotating optics with a light intensity of 180,000 candlepower. In 1912 the lighthouse was extinguished when the West Head Lighthouse in Ouddorp came into use.
- Location Text
- South Holland
- Tower Height M
- 5
- Year Deactivated
- 1991