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Brandaris

Coordinates: 53°21′37.4″N 5°12′51.2″E / 53.360389°N 5.214222°E / 53.360389; 5.214222
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Brandaris Lighthouse
Terschelling
The Brandaris in 2005
Map
LocationTerschelling
Netherlands
Coordinates53°21′37.4″N 5°12′51.2″E / 53.360389°N 5.214222°E / 53.360389; 5.214222
Tower
Constructed1594 (first)
Constructionmasonry tower
Height52.5 metres (172 ft)
Shapesquare tower with balcony and lantern
Markingsunpainted brick tower, red lantern roof
OperatorRijkswaterstaat Edit this on Wikidata
HeritageRijksmonument Edit this on Wikidata
RaconCG Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1835 (current)
Focal height56 metres (184 ft)
Lenstwo 4th order Fresnel lenses
Intensity3,500,000 candela Edit this on Wikidata
Range29 nmi (54 km; 33 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicFl W 5s. Fl W 5s.
0.3 sec. light; 4,7 sec. dark
Netherlands no.2080[1]

The Brandaris is a lighthouse on the Dutch Wadden Sea island Terschelling, in Friesland. It is the oldest lighthouse in the Netherlands, listed as a Rijksmonument, number 35032 and rated with a very high historical value.[2]

History

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The first tower was built in 1323 to guide ships on their way to Amsterdam, through the Zuiderzee, the narrow opening between Vlieland and Terschelling. A good position marking was necessary because many islands in the North Sea look very similar.

When the sea flooded Terschelling in 1570 the tower was completely destroyed. In 1592 the construction of a new tower was started, but it collapsed before it was finished because bad building materials had been used. The current tower was built in 1594.

In 1837 the tower was the first lighthouse in the Netherlands to be equipped with a rotating Fresnel lens. Electrification took place in 1907. Today, the light in the tower is controlled fully automatically.

Description

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Brandaris is the oldest preserved tower specifically built as a lighthouse in the Netherlands. In 1907 it was the first lighthouse in the Netherlands to be fitted with electric lighting. Brandaris is specially equipped to prevent birds from flying against the tower.

Construction period 1593-1594
Tower height 54 metres
Height of the circular beam light 55.5 metres
Range of light 52 kilometres
Luminous intensity 3,500,000 candela
Material yellow stone
Listed (CHM) yes, since 1965
Radar yes, since 1979
Manned? yes, around the clock
Open to the public? no

Name

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The name of this tower may be a reference to Saint Brendan of Clonfert.

There is also a Dutch rolling tobacco brand Brandaris (shag) [nl], classified as heavy, containing 12 mg (0.00042 oz) of tar and 1.3 mg (4.6×10−5 oz) of nicotine per 750 mg (0.026 oz) of tobacco.

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. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  2. ^ "kich.nl (Kennisinfrastructuur Cultuurhistorie)". Retrieved 2010-03-31.
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