Rijkswaterstaat came to Huisduinen yesterday to explain the research into the Lange Jaap. Consideration is being given to how the cast iron construction can be preserved.
The lighthouse needs major renovation, but that is not an easy job. “The lighthouse is made of cast iron. 150 years ago, during construction, there was a lot of knowledge about it. But that has actually flowed away,” says project leader Stephan de Bruin.
De Lange Jaap near Huisduinen and Den Helder is an important beacon for everyone in the area. Not only shipping, but also residents driving back home in the dark, can already see the rays shining in the distance. For many, that already feels like coming home. Four years ago, the tower was in such a bad condition a lot of commotion.
Appreciation and trust
“Then all hell broke loose in the village, in Den Helder and the entire region. The lighthouse would collapse we were told“, says the chairman Jan Dop van Huisduiner Belang, “We were furious at the time. But when the House of Representatives decided that the lighthouse had to be saved, we came to the table with Rijkswaterstaat. Now there is appreciation and trust.”
Because extensive research is being conducted into how the lighthouse can be saved for the future. There are not only cracks in walls and floors. There are also broken bolts, rust on the inside and outside and the foundation is damaged.
Text continues below the photo…