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Come in
The stairwell is more spacious than you might expect. After
a number of turns, the stairs bring you to the first of three
floors. This is the bath floor with the striking, circular shower.
You arrive at the next floor via a curved hallway. This is the most
important living area with a made-to-size bed, a small sitting area
and a worktop with all the facilities for a leisurely stay. The
surrounding glass makes it possible for you to enjoy the panoramic
view even from your bed. But you want to go to the top! A steep
set of stairs brings you to the spot where a lamp the size of a
Skippy ball once shone. Its here, under the original copper dome,
that you can take your seat at a table for two. Or, if you prefer,
you can step out onto the fenced-in platform surrounding the lantern
room.
 Still
a beacon
The completely restored Lighthouse is once again a beacon but now
for those who want to rise above the common and the ordinary. Every
day the lighthouse offers two guests comfortable lodging high above
the old trading town, on the borderline between the land and the
shallows.
The tower is managed by the lighthouse keeper. She is responsible
for welcoming guests and can be contacted by phone if you have any
questions. Every morning, she delivers the breakfast basket with
fresh and delicious rolls.
Clippers and cutters
 Three
hours after low tide on the island of Vlieland, sailing ships start
streaming into the harbour (Willemshaven). At least another 15
charter clippers are making their way along the Blauwe Slenk. Over
the VHF radio-telephone in the lantern room you can listen to their
light-hearted, professional conversations with the harbour
authorities. They are requesting a berth. From a south-westerly
direction, too, a little cluster of boats is passing through the
shallow channel over the 'Boontjes'; the Kornwerderzand lock has
obviously just released a clutch of vessels.
Church towers and lighthouses
It is almost unreal how minute the distances become when
seen from above. The church towers of the towns and villages in the
Friesian hinterland glitter in the last evening light. The Brandaris
of Terschelling will soon take charge of the lighting of the Wadden
Sea. And the flickering light buoys will set out their nautical
runway along the Pollendam.
 Memories
"In February 1998, I extinguished the light. The lighthouse lost its
function after 75 years because of changes to the channels and
alterations to the harbour entrance. But there has been a light
shining at this spot for much longer. From the middle of the 18th
century, fires crackled, acetylene gas lights hissed and the
lighthouse light system, now at the bottom of the stairwell,
twinkled because the many lighthouses Harlingen had were always
rebuilt on the same spot. For centuries, sailors' eyes were fixed on
this spot. Now the roles have been wonderfully reversed: the beacon
has become a lookout point."
Piet
Beuker, Harlingen Lighthouse Keeper from 1970-1998
Interesting facts
Harlingen Lighthouse forms part of a network of lights
along the Dutch coast. Eighteen of the twenty lighthouses are still
in use. For instance, there is a museum in the Hook of Holland
lighthouse, while Harlingen Lighthouse is privately owned.
First
built: 1920-1922, Architect: C. Jelsma
Restored: 1998-1999, Architect: B. Pietersma
Position: 53 10 09 NL; 05 25 04 EL
Highest lookout point: 24 m above average floodwater
Address
Havenweg 1, Harlingen, the Netherlands
Facilities
Harlingen Lighthouse is suitable for day-time and night-time
occupation by two people. The facilities are on three levels in the
top section:
1.
Bathroom level with circular shower, toilet and washbasin
2. Tower room with bed, sitting area and worktop
3. Lantern room and platform
Harlingen Lighthouse has a VHF radio-telephone, telephone,
videophone, television, tuner/CD unit, Quooker boiling water tap,
wind speed and direction meters and minibar.
Go to
their website:
Click Here:
to
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