Lighthouse
The lighthouse, situated on the right bank of the IJzer estuary, has an eventful history. It was built in 1881 at 100 m from the sea and 250 m from the IJzer estuary, as replacement for the old Vierboete, standing on the left bank and more towards town, too far from the sea, to fulfil a normal function.
The new tower was 28 m high and formed together with the double private house for the lighthouse keeper one complex. It was illuminated with mineral oil and radiated a fixed red light.
At the end of October 1914, during the Battle of the IJzer, the lighthouse was bombarded. Reconstructed in 1923, in brick, it was equipped with an electric "flashlight".
During their retreat in September 1944, the Germans blew up the tower. The next year a temporary signal tower of 15 m high was placed on a dune.
The actual lighthouse was put into use in 1949. This time, a concrete construction, painted with white and red rings, certainly favourable with regard to its visibility and recognizability as a beacon, is concerned. It stands 27 m above sea level and the light source reaches 29 m. The red flashing light radiates every 14 seconds a light flash. The last lighthouse keeper did this job till he retired in 1963. By this, the lighthouse lost a small piece of romance - Since then the function of the lighthouse is regulated with an electronic remote control from the pilot service building on the other side of the IJzer estuary.