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Brielle Lighthouse

🇳🇱Brill, NLOperational

Location & Light Range

About Brielle Lighthouse

Also known as: Brielle (Sint Catharijne-Kerk)

A square Gothic church tower, the Sint-Catharijnekerk, served as a lighthouse in Brielle beginning in 1759. This structure, built on foundations from the early 15th century, stands 57 meters tall. For a period until 1795, its light functioned as the rear range light for vessels approaching the port of Rotterdam. The tower's active service as a navigational aid ended in 1850. The lantern was removed during church restoration work in the late 1890s.

Why it matters: This structure is significant as an early instance of a church tower being adapted for maritime navigation, acting as a rear range light for the port of Rotterdam.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
57m
Tower Shape
square

Structure: square Gothic church tower

Location

City
Brill
Country
🇳🇱Netherlands
Region
South Holland
Sea Region
Located in downtown Brielle, served as a rear range light for the approach to the port of Rotterdam
Latitude
51.9026°
Longitude
4.1622°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Construction & History

Year Built
1759

Significant events: Inactive since 1850, lantern removed in late-1890s restoration of the church

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Brielle(0.7 km)
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports and harbors does Brielle Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Brielle Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Brielle at 0.2 NM to the ENE. Other ports served include OOSTVOORNE (2.5 NM WNW), ZWARTEWAAL (2.5 NM ESE), Rotterdam (2.6 NM NNW), Rozenburg (3.1 NM E). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Brielle Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Brielle Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
What shipping routes pass near Brielle Lighthouse?+
Brielle Lighthouse is located within the English Channel / North Sea corridor — one of the world's busiest maritime corridors connecting the Atlantic to Northern European ports. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Brielle Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Brielle Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.