Name and Location

Vuurtoren Westhoofd (Ouddorp Light Tower) is located at Groenedijk 62, 3253 LB Ouddorp, Goeree-Overflakkee, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. The coordinates are 51°48′47″ N, 3°51′51″ E.

Construction and History

The Vuurtoren Westhoofd was built in 1948 as a post-World War II reconstruction project. It is listed as a national heritage site (Rijksmonument ref. 530826; Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed).

Architecture and Materials

The tower has a tapered cylindrical shape with a gallery and lantern, painted red with a white roof. The height of the tower above ground level is 52 meters, while the focal plane is 56 meters above mean sea level.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse emits a group of three white flashes every 15 seconds (Fl (3) W 15 s; sequence 0.2 s flash + 2.8 s eclipse, repeated three times over 15 seconds). The light range is 30 nautical miles.

Accessibility and Visiting

The tower itself is not open to visitors. However, the Westhoofdduin nature trail and parking area nearby provide viewpoints. Visitors can access the site by car or on foot/cycle: follow signs to Ouddorp's Groenedijk and park at Westhoofdduinpad (plus-code RV77+7J) or take a coastal dunes path from Ouddorp beach (approximately 2 kilometers).

Notable Views and Landscape

The Vuurtoren Westhoofd offers panoramic sea views westward, with dunes and polders to the east. Nearby attractions include Brouwersdam (water sports), Ouddorp's lighthouse of Goedereede (historic ruin), and Grevelingenmeer recreational area.

Anecdotes and Folklore

No specific anecdotes or folklore are available for this lighthouse.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated, with no resident keepers since its installation. It also functions as a coast radar station (seamark category "coast") integrated at mid-tower level. The Admiralty number is B 0518, and the chart reference is Dutch nautical chart B 0518.

Further Information

For more information, visit the Dutch Wikipedia page (nl:Westhoofd) or consult Wikidata Q2514617, Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed: Monumentnummer 530826, or OpenStreetMap layer way/49501785.