Zuidertoren, Lighthouse and communication tower in Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands.
The Zuidertoren is a 35-meter cast iron tower on Schiermonnikoog island featuring a white cylindrical body with a gallery ring and lantern at its top. The construction combines industrial engineering with simple, functional design that has endured for over one hundred fifty years.
King William III ordered construction of the tower in 1854 to serve maritime navigation in the region. After more than fifty years as a lighthouse, it changed function in 1909 and was later converted to a water supply system and eventually a telecommunications facility.
The tower takes its name from its southern position on the island and was built as a navigational landmark for seafarers. Visitors can spot the white structure from many points across the island, and it serves today as a visual anchor in the flat landscape.
The tower is visible from the outside and easy to reach while exploring the island, as it sits in flat terrain and can be seen from a distance. Visitors should note that access to the interior may be limited and it is wise to check local information ahead of time.
The tower was not built with stone like many lighthouses of its era, but is a remarkably early use of cast iron for such a tall structure. This construction method was experimental at the time and made the Zuidertoren an example of nineteenth-century industrial innovation.
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