Nieuwe Sluis Lighthouse, Breskens

The Breskens lighthouse, built in 1868, is the oldest surviving cast iron lighthouse in the Netherlands and one of the most famous buildings in western Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.

This octagonal tower, painted black and white, was built in 1866-1867 to a design by Dutch architect Quirinus Harder.

The Nieuwe Sluis lighthouse marks the entrance to the Westerschelde, is 28.4 meters high, and has five floors. It is part of a series of lighthouses that mark the end of the Scheldt and the shipping traffic between the North Sea and Antwerp.

During his tenure, the tower changed its appearance several times: Initially, “Nieuwe Sluis” was painted yellow, then red and white several times, yellow and green camouflage during the war, and is now marked by three black and two white rings.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 2011 and was in danger of falling into disrepair. Thanks to the efforts of the “Stichting Vuurtoren Breskens” foundation, the national monument was completely renovated and opened to visitors in 2015.