Kaap Oosterend, Maritime beacon in Oosterend, Texel, Netherlands.
Kaap Oosterend is an iron navigation beacon located near the Wadden Sea coast, built with four levels supported by six pillars and diagonal reinforcement wires. Today three of the four original construction levels remain visible above ground after the structure was modified to accommodate changes in the Wadden dike.
Architect Quirinus Harder designed this beacon in 1854 for the Pilotage Service to guide ships through the eastern part of the Texelstrom. The structure was later modified to keep pace with changing conditions of the Wadden dike.
The beacon works alongside the Reformed Church tower in Oosterend to create a navigation line that ships use when moving through the Wadden area. This pairing of structures helped mariners find safe routes through these challenging waters.
The beacon is easily reached from the village of Oosterend and sits near the coast where visitors can view the Wadden landscape. Getting there on foot or by bicycle from the village works well for most travelers.
The structure displays early industrial maritime engineering with a hexagonal coupling system that connects six radial girders to the outer pillars. This technical design is rarely seen in other coastal beacons in the region.
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