Workum Lighthouse, Lighthouse in Workum, Netherlands.
Workum Lighthouse is a square white brick tower nine meters tall standing at the entrance to Workum harbor. An attached residence for the lighthouse keeper was built in 1837 to house the person responsible for maintaining the light.
The structure was built in 1623 and guided ships through the Zuiderzee until 1932 when the Afsluitdijk dam transformed the sea into IJsselmeer lake. This change ended its original purpose for maritime navigation.
The structure represents maritime navigation heritage and demonstrates traditional Dutch coastal architecture from the early 17th century with its brick construction methods.
The lighthouse stands at the harbor entrance and can be viewed from the outside throughout the year. The location is easy to reach and offers good views of the water and harbor area.
A resident lived in the lighthouse from 1967 to 2018 and organized an annual sailing race called the Strontrace. During this event, fire from the tower signals returning boats as they arrive back in the harbor.
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