KNMI-mast Cabauw, Meteorological research tower in Lopik, Netherlands
The KNMI-mast Cabauw is a 213-meter tall research structure standing in flat farmland, with measurement instruments attached at different heights to collect atmospheric data. The tower is designed to record information about temperature, wind speed, and other weather conditions throughout the day and night.
Built in 1972, this tower was pioneering in using automatic systems to send weather data directly to the KNMI headquarters in De Bilt. This advance allowed scientists to analyze atmospheric information much faster than before.
This tower shows how meteorologists work to understand our atmosphere, collecting information that helps predict weather and track climate changes. The research conducted here has shaped how scientists across Europe study the air around us.
You can view the tower from outside and walk around the surrounding flat farmland, but the instruments inside are only for researchers to access. The best time to visit is during clear weather when you can see far across the countryside.
Temperature readings can differ by about 10 degrees Celsius between ground level and the tower top, a difference that helps researchers understand distinct layers of the atmosphere. Fog often forms only around the lower sections while the top remains in clear air.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
