Brandaris, Lighthouse in West-Terschelling, Netherlands
Brandaris is a 52-meter brick lighthouse on the Wadden Sea island of Terschelling in the Netherlands, rising above the flat coastal land with its square base and glassed lantern room at the summit. A circular balcony just below the lantern offers views over the North Sea and the tidal flats around it.
The present tower was constructed in 1594 after two earlier structures proved inadequate, serving ships navigating toward the Zuiderzee and Amsterdam. Since its completion it has marked the narrow passages through the Wadden Sea and remains in operation as the oldest functioning lighthouse in the Netherlands.
Its name comes from Saint Brendan, a sixth-century Irish monk whose tales of Atlantic voyages spread across medieval Europe in legend and manuscript. Today the tower serves as a symbol for the island and appears in local stories and souvenirs across the community.
The tower is open to visitors during summer months, with a staircase leading to the upper platform where the view over sea and island is available. Exterior viewing is possible at any time when walking through the village of West-Terschelling.
A small wedding hall on the first floor allows couples to marry beneath the oldest working lighthouse in the country. The automated light produces an intensity of 3,500,000 candelas and sends its signal across 29 nautical miles along the North Sea coast.
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