West Head lighthouse by night - Ouddorp
A real, operational lighthouse really shouldn't be visited during the day. Only after dark does the thing come into its own and do what it was made for: scatter beams of light over the wide area, protecting shipping. This tower, named 'Westhoofd' after its western position on the island, is the second on this site. Its predecessor, from 1912, replaced the light on Goedereede's tower, which was first lit in 1552.
Although the 'Old West Head' was the first Dutch lighthouse to be built of reinforced concrete, it could not withstand the destructiveness of the departing German occupation forces. The 'New Westhoofd' (1950) received a new coat of paint in crimson in the late 10s, as the colour 'lighthouse red' was no longer available by now.
Photo: Matthijs Termeer
West Head lighthouse by night
Groenedijk 62
3253 LB
Ouddorp
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