De Ven is a lighthouse in Oosterdijk, a village in the municipality of Enkhuizen, Netherlands. Built in 1699–1700, it is one of the oldest lighthouses in the Netherlands.

De Ven Lighthouse
Enkhuizen
De Ven, Enkhuizen
Map
LocationOosterdijk
Enkhuizen
Netherlands
Coordinates52°44′31.4″N 5°16′56.1″E / 52.742056°N 5.282250°E / 52.742056; 5.282250
Tower
Constructed1700
Constructionbrick tower
Height15 metres (49 ft)
Shapesquare tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower, red lantern
HeritageRijksmonument Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit14 November 1839 Edit this on Wikidata
Deactivatedbriefly in 2009
Focal height18 metres (59 ft)
Intensity4,200 cd
Range11 nautical miles (20 km)
CharacteristicL Fl W10s.
Netherlands no.NL-1618[1][2]

History

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De Ven was one of the three lighthouses indicating the route from the Waddenzee to Amsterdam; the other two were at Marken and Durgerdam. De Ven is the only one remaining of the three original lighthouses.

In 1819 the lighthouse burned down, with only the outer walls still standing. An emergency solution functioned for twenty years. In 1834, the light was equipped with a Fresnel lens. For years, a second tower next to the lighthouse passed on information to passing ships about wind and weather. Since 1966 the lighthouse is a Rijksmonument.

The light was extinguished on 16 April 2009 since the light characteristic no longer properly marked the shipping route to Lemmer. After protests the light was reinstated with a different characteristic, on 21 October 2009. The lighthouse is not open to the public.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Northern Netherlands". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  2. ^ Nederlandse Vuurtorens
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