Name and Location

The Ronde Vuurtoren, also known as the Round Lighthouse, is a circular masonry ruin located in the former island of Schokland in the Noordoostpolder, Flevoland, Netherlands. The address is Ruïnepad (± JQCC+3W), 8319 AB Schokland, Netherlands.

2. Construction and History

The Ronde Vuurtoren was constructed in the mid-19th century, with its purpose being to serve as a day and night beacon for fishing vessels and merchant traffic on the former Zuiderzee approaches to Kampen and Kuinre. It likely became obsolete after land reclamation and advances in navigational aids around the turn of the 20th century.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is made of local brick or fieldstone bonded with lime mortar, with a functional and unadorned circular tower typical of small 19th-century beacons. The original height was estimated to be around 6-8 meters above ground, but only the lower courses remain today.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse's light characteristic is no longer operational, and historic patterns are not documented. It is presumed that it was a low-level light for short-range coastal guidance.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the site on foot or by bicycle via the Ruïnepad from the Schokland visitor centre. There is no enclosed interior to enter, but visitors can walk around the ruin and read on-site information panels. The site is open year-round during daylight hours and admission is free.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape features flat reclaimed polders with occasional earthwork embankments (terpen), grassy meadows, and reed beds. From the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy a panoramic vista over the Noordoostpolder, including the distant church tower of Ens and the modern dike line.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local oral history speaks of lonely keepers watching for fishing boats in fog and storm, their lantern glow a comforting sight to families on the island's terp (man-made mound).

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Ronde Vuurtoren is listed as a Rijksmonument under local heritage protection and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Schokland and Surroundings".

9. Further Information

For further information, please visit the Schokland Museum (official site) at https://www.schokland.nl/, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/739, or consult the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (Dutch Heritage Register).