Lange Jaap Lighthouse
Zeeweg 5, 1789 AC Huisduinen, Netherlands
Name and Location
The Lange Jaap Lighthouse, also known as Vuurtoren Huisduinen, stands at Zeeweg 5 in Huisduinen, municipality of Den Helder, North Holland, Netherlands. Its address is 1789 AC Huisduinen, Den Helder, North Holland, Netherlands. The lighthouse's coordinates are 52°57′19.7″N, 4°43′35.1″E.
2. Construction and History
The Lange Jaap Lighthouse was constructed between 1876 and 1878, with the first light being lit in 1878. It was designed by Chief Engineer Quirinus Harder of the Rijkswaterstaat. The lighthouse replaced an earlier wooden structure from 1810.
3. Architecture and Materials
The Lange Jaap Lighthouse is a 19th-century, cast-iron lighthouse with a hexadecagonal (16-sided) tapering conical tower standing at 57 meters in height. It features a cast-iron dome above the lantern room. Originally, the exterior was bare iron, but it has been painted bright red since.
4. Light and Navigation
The lighthouse's focal plane is 57 meters above ground level. Its original optical apparatus was a first-order Fresnel lens, while today it retains a modern sealed-beam optic. The characteristic light display consists of four white flashes every 20 seconds (0.2 s flash + 3.1 s eclipse, repeated four times, then a 9.9 s pause). The nominal range is 30 nautical miles.
5. Accessibility and Visiting
The tower itself is closed to the public for safety reasons, but the grounds are freely accessible. Visitors can reach the lighthouse on foot or by bicycle from Den Helder (approximately 4 kilometers away) with parking available at Zeeweg parking lot in Huisduinen. Occasionally, guided visits are organized by local historical societies.
6. Notable Views and Landscape
The surrounding area offers panoramic views of the Wadden Sea, Marsdiep channel, and the North Sea shipping lanes. Nearby attractions include Fort Kijkduin and the Marine Museum (Marinemuseum Den Helder), as well as the Huisduinen beach and coastal dunes reserve (Nationaal Park Hollandse Duinen).
7. Anecdotes and Folklore
The lighthouse has been nicknamed "Lange Jaap" due to its imposing height compared to neighboring towers. In 1919, a lightning strike caused damage to the lantern; subsequent repairs retained the original cast-iron structure.
8. Technical and Operational Details
The lighthouse is fully automated, with no resident keepers since the late 20th century. It remains an aid to navigation by Rijkswaterstaat, with official Dutch light list reference B 0858 and Seamark classification as a landmark tower with light support, color red.
9. Further Information
The Lange Jaap Lighthouse is recognized as a national heritage monument (Rijksmonument #335626) and is protected and administered by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (RCE). For further information, please visit Dutch Wikipedia, Wikidata, or the Rijksmonumentenregister (RCE).
Details
Name | Lange Jaap Lighthouse |
---|---|
City | Huisduinen |
Country | Netherlands |
Coordinates | 52.9554807, 4.7264292 |
Year of construction | 1877 |
Stories | [object Object] |
Architectural style | Prefabricated cast-iron plates bolted to a cast-iron skeletal frame |
Architect | Chief engineer Quirinus Harder of the Rijkswaterstaat |
Construction material | Cast-iron plates and skeletal frame |
Focal height | 57 |
Tower height | 57 |
Heritage status | true |
Renovations | [object Object] |
Access description | On foot or by bicycle from Den Helder (approx. 4 km). Nearest parking at Zeeweg parking lot in Huisduinen. |
Accessible | true |
Guided tours | true |
Facilities | |
Nearby attractions | [object Object], [object Object] |
Light characteristic | Fl(4) W 20 s |
Light range | 30 |
Automated | true |