Ameland Lighthouse, Lighthouse in Hollum, Netherlands
The Ameland Lighthouse is a 55-meter-tall cast iron tower painted in red and white, with 14 floors linked by metal staircases. The structure stands on Ameland island off the Dutch coast and now houses a museum about maritime life and navigation.
King Willem III commissioned this lighthouse in 1880, with architect Quirinus Harder overseeing its design. The cast iron structure was manufactured by Nering Bögel foundry in Deventer and began guiding ships across the North Sea in 1881.
The tower functions as a museum where visitors can explore stories about maritime navigation and how lighthouse keepers once lived and worked. Exhibits inside reveal the daily routines and responsibilities of those who tended the light.
Climbing to the top means ascending metal stairs through all 14 floors, a workout that rewards you with views across the island and sea. The tower is open most days of the week, with extended evening hours available on certain nights.
The cast iron body was manufactured by a foundry in Deventer and still displays craftsmanship details typical of that era. This type of industrial construction proved durable, allowing the tower to serve ships for over 140 years.
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