Vuurtoreneiland
Encyclopedia
Vuurtoreneiland is a small island in the IJmeer
, the Netherlands, just off the coast of Durgerdam
. The island's main function is as a base for a lighthouse; a military fort
on the island was abandoned in the 1930s.
". The first lighthouse was a square, stone building. In 1809 the island was equipped with a military post, which in 1844 was expanded to a real fort, which in 1883 became part of the Stelling van Amsterdam
. The lighthouse was replaced with a cast-iron construction in 1893, which is still standing.
At the end of the nineteenth century, a bomb-proof building and artillery battery
were built on the island, but its five guns were moved to Den Helder
in 1904. In 1959 it was delisted as a stronghold, but the last soldiers had left long before. In 1981, the island was listed as a Rijksmonument
, and in 1996 a bridge was built to the mainland. The fog signal was deactivated in 2001, and the light was extinguished in 2003 when the last lighthouse keeper retired. It was rekindled in 2005.
World Heritage Site
. It is owned by the Dutch state, and is managed by Staatsbosbeheer
. In 2011, Staatsbosbeheer began inviting businesses to propose a plan to restore the buildings (costs are estimated between 1 and 2 million Euro) and propose commercial use of the island while maintaining its status as a monument.
IJmeer
The IJmeer is a bordering lake in the Netherlands. It lies between the polder De Nes , Pampushaven, Hollandse Brug and the mouth of the IJ in IJburg, straddling the provinces of North Holland and Flevoland. It is an important habitat for birds such as the Tufted Duck and Scaup...
, the Netherlands, just off the coast of Durgerdam
Durgerdam
Durgerdam is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Amsterdam, and lies about 7 km east of the city centre, along the dyke of the IJsselmeer....
. The island's main function is as a base for a lighthouse; a military fort
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
on the island was abandoned in the 1930s.
History of lighthouse and fort
The island's lighthouse has been in operation since 1700; it is named for the opposite point on the mainland, Hoek van 't IJ, or "Corner of the IJIJ (bay)
The IJ is a river, formerly a bay, in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is known for being Amsterdam's waterfront. The name derives from the generic Germanic term for "water" and is similar to other Aa/Ee names for bodies of water. In Dutch, the name consists of the digraph ij, which is...
". The first lighthouse was a square, stone building. In 1809 the island was equipped with a military post, which in 1844 was expanded to a real fort, which in 1883 became part of the Stelling van Amsterdam
Stelling van Amsterdam
The UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Defence Line of Amsterdam is a 135 km long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam, consisting of 42 forts located between 10 to 15 kilometers the centre, and lowlands that can easily be flooded in time of war...
. The lighthouse was replaced with a cast-iron construction in 1893, which is still standing.
At the end of the nineteenth century, a bomb-proof building and artillery battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
were built on the island, but its five guns were moved to Den Helder
Den Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
in 1904. In 1959 it was delisted as a stronghold, but the last soldiers had left long before. In 1981, the island was listed as a Rijksmonument
Rijksmonument
A rijksmonument is a National Heritage Site of the Netherlands, listed by the agency Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed acting for the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.-History and criteria:...
, and in 1996 a bridge was built to the mainland. The fog signal was deactivated in 2001, and the light was extinguished in 2003 when the last lighthouse keeper retired. It was rekindled in 2005.
Current status
The island is a UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. It is owned by the Dutch state, and is managed by Staatsbosbeheer
Staatsbosbeheer
Staatsbosbeheer is a Dutch organization founded in 1899 to control and conserve Dutch nature reserves.Staatsbosbeheer currently oversees over 250.000 hectares of land in the Netherlands. Usually this land is open to the public for recreational purposes, but restrictions often apply...
. In 2011, Staatsbosbeheer began inviting businesses to propose a plan to restore the buildings (costs are estimated between 1 and 2 million Euro) and propose commercial use of the island while maintaining its status as a monument.
External links
- Artillery at Durgerdam
- "Ondernemers gezocht voor uniek eiland", on Radio Netherlands Worldwide