Lange Jaap
Encyclopedia
Lange Jaap also known as Kijkduin Light or Den Helder Light, is an active lighthouse
near fort Kijkduin in Huisduinen
, municipality of Den Helder
, province
of North Holland
, the Netherlands. At a height of 182 feet (55.5 m) it is one of the tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world. For almost a century, from 1878 to 1974, it was the tallest lighthouse in the Netherlands, until the construction of Maasvlakte Light
.
According to The Lighthouse Directory it is the tallest non-skeletal cast iron lighthouse in the world. That may be the case if the height is as specified in that source (63.5 metres (208.3 ft)). However, if the height is 55.5 metres (182.1 ft) as stated by other sources it is the second tallest, Cikoneng Light being 190 feet (57.9 m).
The site is open and accessible. However, due to safety concerns the tower has been closed to the public since 1998.
s with parabolic reflectors, visible up to 6 nautical miles (11.1 km). Cracks in the building foundation were repaired twice, in 1826 and 1827. In 1853 the light was replaced by an Argand lamp lens system with fixed Fresnel lens
. The shell of the former lantern is displayed outdoors in the royal dockyard of Willemsoord
in Den Helder.
The construction of the second and current lighthouse started on 1877 and and first lighting was on 1 April 1878. The first lens system was a stationary lens with Argand lamp
s from the old tower. In 1903 this was replaced with a Barbier and F.B. rotational system, with Mercury bearings. It used incandescent kerosene and had an intensity of 1,200,000 cd
. Its characteristic was 2 flashes every 10s and was visible for "20 English miles".
In 1912 an improved pharoline incandescent light was installed. In 1924 the light was electrified in 1924 and a Brandaris 80V 50A lamp was fitted.
In 1940, during World War II
, this light system was destroyed . An emergency light was installed in 1945, with an intensity of 62,000 cd. On September 2, 1949 the current 920mm 1st order Fresnel lens
was installed, with the current characteristic.
In 1988 the site was listed as a Rijksmonument
.
In 1998 the lighthouse was closed to the public due to cracks on the cast iron floors. Although it was refurbished in 1999 and a new coat of paint was applied, it is unlikely that the tower will be reopened, especially due to harder safety regulation since the Volendam
café disaster and the formation of the Dutch Safety Board
.
and prefabricated by Penn & Bauduin in Dordrecht
. It was constructed from 1,088 iron plate and 21,446 nuts and bolts.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
near fort Kijkduin in Huisduinen
Huisduinen
Huisduinen is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Den Helder, and lies about 2 km west of Den Helder....
, municipality of Den Helder
Den Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
, province
Provinces of the Netherlands
A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
, the Netherlands. At a height of 182 feet (55.5 m) it is one of the tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world. For almost a century, from 1878 to 1974, it was the tallest lighthouse in the Netherlands, until the construction of Maasvlakte Light
Maasvlakte Light
Maasvlakte Light is an inactive lighthouse in Maasvlakte, an industrial area in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. At a height of it is the twelfth tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world, as well as the second tallest concrete lighthouse in the world and the tallest Dutch...
.
According to The Lighthouse Directory it is the tallest non-skeletal cast iron lighthouse in the world. That may be the case if the height is as specified in that source (63.5 metres (208.3 ft)). However, if the height is 55.5 metres (182.1 ft) as stated by other sources it is the second tallest, Cikoneng Light being 190 feet (57.9 m).
The site is open and accessible. However, due to safety concerns the tower has been closed to the public since 1998.
History
The first aid to navigation at the site was a simple coal fire lit from 1814, at Fort Kijkduin, a few hundred meters south of the current tower. In 1822 the construction of the first tower was completed and it was first lit on 29 October 1822. The tower was a 22 metres (72.2 ft) tall, six floor brick tower. The light consisted of 26 Argand lampArgand lamp
The Argand lamp is home lighting oil lamp producing a light output of 6 to 10 candlepower which was invented and patented in 1780 by Aimé Argand...
s with parabolic reflectors, visible up to 6 nautical miles (11.1 km). Cracks in the building foundation were repaired twice, in 1826 and 1827. In 1853 the light was replaced by an Argand lamp lens system with fixed Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
. The shell of the former lantern is displayed outdoors in the royal dockyard of Willemsoord
Willemsoord, Den Helder
Willemsoord is a large former dockyard of the Royal Netherlands Navy in Den Helder. It is now a maritime museum, housing the Dutch Navy Museum and the Nationaal Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers. In 2009 the replica of the Dutch East India Company ship Prins Willem which was located in a dock burned...
in Den Helder.
The construction of the second and current lighthouse started on 1877 and and first lighting was on 1 April 1878. The first lens system was a stationary lens with Argand lamp
Argand lamp
The Argand lamp is home lighting oil lamp producing a light output of 6 to 10 candlepower which was invented and patented in 1780 by Aimé Argand...
s from the old tower. In 1903 this was replaced with a Barbier and F.B. rotational system, with Mercury bearings. It used incandescent kerosene and had an intensity of 1,200,000 cd
Candela
The candela is the SI base unit of luminous intensity; that is, power emitted by a light source in a particular direction, weighted by the luminosity function . A common candle emits light with a luminous intensity of roughly one candela...
. Its characteristic was 2 flashes every 10s and was visible for "20 English miles".
In 1912 an improved pharoline incandescent light was installed. In 1924 the light was electrified in 1924 and a Brandaris 80V 50A lamp was fitted.
In 1940, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, this light system was destroyed . An emergency light was installed in 1945, with an intensity of 62,000 cd. On September 2, 1949 the current 920mm 1st order Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
was installed, with the current characteristic.
In 1988 the site was listed as a Rijksmonument
Rijksmonument
A rijksmonument is a National Heritage Site of the Netherlands, listed by the agency Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed acting for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.-History and criteria:...
.
In 1998 the lighthouse was closed to the public due to cracks on the cast iron floors. Although it was refurbished in 1999 and a new coat of paint was applied, it is unlikely that the tower will be reopened, especially due to harder safety regulation since the Volendam
Volendam
Volendam is a town in North Holland in the Netherlands, in the municipality of Edam-Volendam. The town has about 22,000 inhabitants .- History :...
café disaster and the formation of the Dutch Safety Board
Dutch Safety Board
The Dutch Safety Board; Onderzoeksraad Voor Veiligheid , is based in The Hague, The Netherlands. The first chairman was Pieter van Vollenhoven, who served until February of 2011...
.
Construction
The 17 floor 284 step tower was designed by Quirinus HarderQuirinus Harder
Quirinus Harder was a Dutch architect best known for having designed a large number of lighthouses. He worked as a structural engineer for the Loodswezen, the Dutch organization overseeing all maritime pilots...
and prefabricated by Penn & Bauduin in Dordrecht
Dordrecht
Dordrecht , colloquially Dordt, historically in English named Dort, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,601 in 2009...
. It was constructed from 1,088 iron plate and 21,446 nuts and bolts.