Low Light of the Hook of Holland#History

An octagonal brick tower {{convert|9|m|ftin}} in height was built on the site of the low light in 1893, with a higher tower behind it.{{sfn|Kustverlichting Hoek van Holland: Museum}}

It was designed by A.C. van Loon.

Coming from the sea, the low light would be seen first, then the high light {{convert|544|m|yd}} behind it.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

When the two were aligned vertically the ship was on the correct course to sail the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) leading to the Port of Rotterdam.

However, it was soon obvious that the low light was too low, and it was replaced by a {{convert|15|m|ftin|adj=on}} round cast iron tower,

the last cast iron lighthouse to be built in the Netherlands.{{sfn|Kustverlichting Hoek van Holland: Museum}}

The red cast iron tower was built in 1899 by Penn & Bauduin of Dordrecht.

It is made of many cast iron components bolted together.

There are four floors and 42 steps.

At first the tower had a 2,000 candlepower (1962 candela) gas light. In 1913 this was replaced by a 12,000 candlepower gas light.

In 1921 the light was replaced by a 20,000 candlepower electric light.

In 1967 the light was turned off and the tower painted grey.{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

The construction of Europoort had extended the shore line, and the two lights were now too far from the waterway entrance.{{sfn|Keesing|2013}}

A temporary arrangement of spotlights on a scaffold was erected,

and in 1974 nine modern concrete lighthouses replaced the old coastal lights.{{sfn|Kustverlichting Hoek van Holland: Museum}}

In 1977 the tower was transported in two parts from Leuvehaven to Rotterdam, and in 1990 it was erected in the Maritime museum in Rotterdam.

It was repainted to its original reddish-brown color.{{sfn|De Hoek wil het Lage Licht terug}}

A similar tower to the old low light used to stand in Kijkduin.

In 2004 this tower was transported by Chinook helicopter to the original site of the old low light.

In 2006 a petition to return the old low light to its original site gained 2,000 signatures.{{sfn|Hoek van Holland wil vuurtoren Lage Licht terug}}

File:Rotterdam - Havenmuseum vuurtoren bij nacht.jpg|At night - 2008

File:WLANL - Quistnix! - Havenmuseum - Blik op de kade vanaf het Maritiem Museum bij nacht.jpg|Harbor Museum at night

File:Rotterdam vuurtoorn.jpg|2008

File:WLANL - Quistnix! - Havenmuseum - Vuurtoren 'Het Lage Licht'.jpg|Light - 2009

File:WLANL - Quistnix! - Havenmuseum - Vuurtoren 'Het Lage Licht', door tandwiel Deauville walkraan.jpg|2009

Citations

{{reflist |colwidth=30em}}

{{commons category|Hoek van Holland lage licht}}

Sources

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite journal |ref={{harvid|De Hoek wil het Lage Licht terug}}

|title=De Hoek wil het Lage Licht terug|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1038/Rotterdam/article/detail/2397433/2005/09/05/De-Hoek-wil-het-Lage-Licht-terug.dhtml

|date=5 September 2005 |publisher=De Persgroep |access-date=2013-05-17}}

• {{cite journal |ref={{harvid|Hoek van Holland wil vuurtoren Lage Licht terug}}

|title=Hoek van Holland wil vuurtoren Lage Licht terug

|url=http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1038/Rotterdam/article/detail/2322436/2006/05/16/Hoek-van-Holland-wil-vuurtoren-Lage-Licht-terug.dhtml

|date=16 May 2006 |publisher=De Persgroep |access-date=2013-05-17}}

• {{cite web |url=http://www.lighthousedigest.com/digest/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=2566

|last=Keesing|first=Joost|year=2013 |title=Hoek van Holland Front Light (Old)|publisher=Foghorn|work=Lighthouse Explorer|access-date=2013-05-17}}

• {{cite web|ref={{harvid|Kustverlichting Hoek van Holland: Museum}}|url=http://www.kustverlichtingsmuseum.nl/Historie.htm|title=Kustverlichting Hoek van Holland|publisher=Kustverlichtingsmuseum Hoek van Holland|access-date=2013-05-17|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616065501/http://www.kustverlichtingsmuseum.nl/Historie.htm|archive-date=2013-06-16|url-status=dead}}

{{refend}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hook of Holland}}

Category:Lighthouses completed in 1899

Category:Lighthouses in South Holland

Category:1899 establishments in the Netherlands

Low Light

Category:19th-century architecture in the Netherlands