Historic Zeeland lighthouse 'De Sergeant' finds new home with Veere municipality
The iconic lighthouse 'De Sergeant' in Zoutelande has been transferred to the municipality of Veere, ensuring its preservation as a landmark. Residents and visitors can continue to enjoy this piece of Zeeland's maritime history, now restored and maintained for future generations.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Lighthouse Name | De Sergeant |
| Location | Zoutelande, Zeeland |
| Transferred To | Municipality of Veere |
| Dune Plot Owner | Scheldestromen Water Board |
| Original Installation | 1866 |
| Decommissioned | November 8, 2021 |
| Recent Renovation | 2023 (by Rijkswaterstaat and Flemish government) |
| Councillor | Tuk (Municipality of Veere) |
Rijkswaterstaat and the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf are responsible for managing and maintaining state-owned properties, including navigational aids like lighthouses. Their role involves ensuring these structures are preserved or transferred to local authorities when they no longer serve their original purpose. The municipality of Veere will now take on the responsibility of safeguarding this historic landmark for cultural and heritage purposes.
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external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Lighthouse 'De Sergeant' transferred to the municipality of Veere
After years of preparation, Rijkswaterstaat and the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf have transferred the lighthouse ‘De Sergeant’ in Zoutelande to the municipality of Veere. The dune plot where the lighthouse stands will become the property of the Scheldestromen Water Board. The municipality of Veere will be responsible for the preservation of De Sergeant, ensuring that this historic coastal light remains a recognizable landmark on the Zeeland coast.
Councillor Tuk: “As the municipality of Veere, we are doing everything we can to keep our history ‘visible’ in our landscape. That is why we are pleased that this aid to navigation, now that it no longer serves its purpose, has been handed over to us by Rijkswaterstaat and the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf in a restored state.”
History of De Sergeant
A lighthouse is a tall tower with a light source used to warn or assist ships in navigation. Unlike a traditional lighthouse, a lighthouse like De Sergeant is unmanned.
The history of De Sergeant began in the nineteenth century, when the first bank lighting was installed along the Westerschelde. Since 1866, De Sergeant has played an important role in the safe navigation of the Westerschelde. Together with eleven other bank lights and six lightships, the coastal light formed a light line in a northwesterly direction, intended to safely guide ships between Westkapelle and Vlissingen.
After the Second World War, the original steel coastal light was in need of replacement. In 1950, the current brick lighthouse was built, which quickly earned the nickname ‘De Sergeant’ due to its sleek design. Due to changes in the shipping channel, caused by shifting sandbanks, De Sergeant eventually lost its function as an official navigation beacon and was decommissioned on November 8, 2021.
Maintenance
The harsh coastal climate has left its mark: the masonry of the tower urgently required maintenance. In 2023, therefore, the lighthouse was fully renovated by Rijkswaterstaat in collaboration with the Flemish government.
With the transfer to the municipality of Veere, De Sergeant will be preserved for the future.