Lighthouse Vuurbaak Katwijk - Katwijk aan Zee

Here you are looking at one of the oldest preserved lighthouse buildings in the Netherlands (the very oldest is the Brandaris). This 14-metre-high tower is the Vuurbaak, also known as Vierboet. Are you curious to see what it looks like some 30 metres above sea level? Then climb the steps until you are on the circumference.

In 1605, the request to build the Vuurbaak was submitted to Stadholder Prince Maurits. At the Vuurbaak, the fire beacon masters worked. In 1628, they received permission from Stadholder Frederik Hendrik to levy a dime from every 15 pennies raised by the fish auction to maintain the lighthouse and burn wood fire. The wood fire was burned on the flat roof as a light signal. Later, this became a coal fire and in the mid-19th century an oil lamp with reflector in a light house was introduced.

The lighthouse can be visited from Tuesday to Saturday in June, July and August. Outside, the Vuurbaak may be open in good weather. You can recognise this by the flag on the Vuurbaak: if it is flying, the tower is open.