A fire broke out in the watchtower on the grounds of the Drentsche Golf & Country Club in Zeijerveen on Wednesday evening.
The fire was noticed around 9:30 am by bystanders, who called 1-1-2. The fire brigade was quickly on the scene, but it was difficult to get to the tower on Ten Oeverstraat.
The immediate area was cordoned off. The smoke development was great. The fire service scaled up to ‘medium fire’. Residents were advised to close windows and doors.
The fire was extinguished shortly after 10 a.m. It turned out that the top part of the tower had been severely damaged by the fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown; arson is not ruled out.
The tower, which is almost 14 meters high, opened in 2009 and is part of the Arboretum Assen.
Vandalism at watchtowers
In recent months, other watchtowers in Drenthe and Groningen have been the target of vandalism, such as at the Zuidlaardermeer in Noordlaren and in De Onlanden.