DEN OEVER VUURTOREN
Den Oever, Netherlands
Finally after following the dike north from Enkhuizen, I reached Den Oever and the west side of the Big Dike. That would be then one that they built some time ago that separated the Zuider Zee (Zowder Zay) from the North Sea. You'd think that a major entrance point like that before the dike would rate a larger vuurtoren, but all they got is this little skeleton tower. Kinda like at Vlissingen. As a result, the light can be seen only 10 nautical miles out. I believe that the light was built in 1884.
I stopped in a restaurant to eat lunch that was right in the middle of this big concrete parking lot and drive through area next to this waterway that separated the light from the restaurant. There were photographs in the restaurant that showed a storm that caused the sea to overwhelm the dike. The restaurant survived because it was built on an elevated foundation. It was however, an island. The boats that were moored along the sides of the waterway were getting thrashed by big waves. Made me realize that there is this country whose existence is completely dependent on the integrity of those dikes. It is a country with about 3/4 of its total area is below sea level.
Here's how I
saw it:
DO1
DO2
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OF THE MOUNTAINS
John B Caddell
Copyright 2001