Den Helder Light

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Lange Jaap, also known as Kijkduin Light or Den Helder Light, is an active lighthouse near fort Kijkduin in Huisduinen, Netherlands. At a height of 182ft it is one of the tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world. For almost a century, from 1878 to 1974, it was the tallest lighthouse in the Netherlands, until the construction of Maasvlakte Light.According to The Lighthouse Directory it is the tallest non-skeletal cast iron lighthouse in the world. That may be the case if the height is as specified in that source. However, if the height is. As stated by other sources it is the second tallest, Cikoneng Light being 190ft.The site is open and accessible. However, due to safety concerns the tower has been closed to the public since 1998.HistoryThe first aid to navigation at the site was a simple coal fire lit from 1814, at Fort Kijkduin, a few hundred meters south of the current tower. In 1822 the construction of the first tower was completed and it was first lit on 29 October 1822. The tower was a tall, six floor brick tower. The light consisted of 26 Argand lamps with parabolic reflectors, visible up to. Cracks in the building foundation were repaired twice, in 1826 and 1827. In 1853 the light was replaced by an Argand lamp lens system with fixed Fresnel lens. The shell of the former lantern is displayed outdoors in the royal dockyard of Willemsoord in Den Helder.The construction of the second and current lighthouse started on 1877 and first lighting was on 1 April 1878. The first lens system was a stationary lens with Argand lamps from the old tower. In 1903 this was replaced with a Barbier and F.B. rotational system, with Mercury bearings. It used incandescent kerosene and had an intensity of 1,200,000 cd. Its characteristic was 2 flashes every 10s and was visible for "20 English miles".

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