Westkapelle Lighthouse

The Westkapelle lighthouse (Hoge Licht) on Walcheren in the Dutch province of Zeeland is the former tower of the Sint-Willibrordus church. The church burned down (Wikipedia: in the 18th century, Rijkswaterstaat: 1831), the tower survived and has served as a lighthouse since 1817 or 1818. Sources differ on the height: Wikipedia gives 52 metres, Rijkswaterstaat 38 metres. A second, cast-iron lighthouse from 1875 stands on the outer slope of the dike. According to Wikivoyage the tower is open from April to early November (admission 2 euros).

The dike has a history: on 3 October 1944 British bombers destroyed the dike south of the village to flood the German occupiers; about 180 inhabitants died. On 1 November 1944 British and Norwegian commandos landed, and the gap was only closed on 12 October 1945. A Sherman tank (“Bramble 5”, a mine-clearing flail tank of the 79th Armoured Division) stands as a memorial to the war and the liberation; Wikivoyage, however, reports it was dismantled in 2021. Please check in advance whether it is back in place.

The Dijk- en Oorlogsmuseum Polderhuis (Zuidstraat 154–156) tells the village's story and has an observation tower; Wikivoyage gives admission of 5.50 euros and hours of 10 am to 5 pm (April to October). Please check times in advance, as the information is undated.