Brandaris

The Brandaris is a lighthouse on Terschelling. He is the oldest lighthouse in the Netherlands. The name is a reference to St. Brandarius, a saint after whom the town of West -Terschelling was named the Middle Ages. According to other legends of the name refers to the Saint Brendan back, a sailor, but this is not proven. The first tower was built in 1323 to guide ships on their way to Amsterdam, through the Zuiderzee, the narrow opening between Vlieland and Terschelling.

A good position marker was necessary because see many islands in the North Sea are very similar. The sea flooded Terschelling and the first lighthouse at about 1570, the tower was completely destroyed. 1592 has started with the construction of a new tower, but collapsed before he was done, because poor construction materials had been used. The present tower dates from the year 1594. 1837 the tower was equipped as the first lighthouse in the Netherlands with a rotating Fresnel lens. The electrification took place in 1907. 1994 the 400 - year anniversary of the tower was celebrated. The light of the tower is now controlled fully automatically.

Description

This is the oldest surviving tower, which was built as a lighthouse. In 1907 it was the first lighthouse in the Netherlands, who received electric lighting. Brandaris is specially equipped to prevent birds flying towards the tower.