Light from Lange Nelle lighthouse in Ostend will be restored as soon as possible, Minister Diependaele has foil removed

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  1. **The light of the Lange Nelle lighthouse in Ostend will be restored as soon as possible. Flemish Minister for Immovable Heritage Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) is going to have the foil installed to make the light inland less bright removed. He understands the people who have now moved into the area and find the light disturbing, but he points out that the lighthouse was already there when they bought the flat.**

    In recent days, there has been a lot of fuss in Ostend about the fact that the light from the Lange Nelle lighthouse had been partially shielded so that it would no longer shine into the flats in the Vuurtoren neighbourhood.

    The lighthouse has been showing ships the safe way to Ostend harbour for more than 70 years. It is a true icon of the city. Meanwhile, many flats have been built near the lighthouse and some residents found the bright light very distracting.

    The Maritime and Coastal Services Agency wanted to be constructive and, at the request of a construction promoter, screened the light inland with a double-sided film. The intention was to dampen the light on the flat side, but towards the sea it continued to shine at full power.

    The installation of the foil was checked off with the Heritage Agency, as the lighthouse is a protected monument. A temporary test stand was set up to see what the effect was. The intervention provoked a lot of protest from Eastden residents. A petition to reverse the decision has already been signed almost 10,000 times. Mayor Bart Tommelein (Open VLD) also wanted the foil gone.

    Minister Matthias Diependaele, who is responsible for Heritage, will now have the trial arrangement stopped as soon as possible. “The reactions show that the impact is too great for the people of Oostende. People have been looking for a constructive solution. That is also what we ask from the Heritage Agency, but in this case, the trade-off between public interest and private interest is skewed. So we are going to shut down the trial operation and ensure that the Lange Nelle can shine again in all directions. That is what the East End people want. That light shines again as it did before.”

    “I understand the residents who had complaints, but they knew what was coming. There are probably other ways to solve the problem.”

    Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

  3. Ik snap nog altijd niet de meerwaarde om een vuurtoren landinwaarts te laten schijnen.

    Ok, de vuurtoren was er eerst en niemand heeft veel sympathie voor eigenaars van luxeappartementen. Maar om die nu gewoon daarom te pesten?

    Er is toch wel duidelijk een verschil met een luchthaven of dancing die hinder veroorzaakt. Bij die is het heel moeilijk om de hinder te stoppen zonder dat de essentiele functie van een luchthaven of dancing in het gedrang komt. Maar hier, het was al opgelost met een sticker. De vuurtoren vervulde zijn functie nog perfect.

  4. I get both sides of the story. I’m originally from Ostend and am now living in a neighbouring city. I’m always happy when I drive home from work that I can see her light shining bright. So I’d miss her, but that’s just me. No real harm is done when it gets covered. To me, or other people.

    The funny thing is that I first noticed the lights a year ago on that building. And I could not resist a chuckle at the poor rich people living there. I also filmed it, maybe I’ll share when I find it. I predict that this is not the last we will hear from this.

    Edit: [found the video](https://imgur.com/a/W97Z7WN)

  5. >The installation of the foil was checked off with the Heritage Agency, as the lighthouse is a **protected monument**. A temporary test stand was set up to see what the effect was. The intervention provoked a lot of protest from Eastden residents. A petition to reverse the decision has already been signed almost **10,000 times**. **Mayor Bart Tommelein (Open VLD) also wanted the foil gone.**

    I’m guessing the majority of people in Ostend liked the old setup. So it makes sense to restore that.

  8. I get that they restore this to the earlier stage.

    But on the other hand… the light of a lighthouse that falls inland has no function? Why bother if it is removed?

  10. imo they should sue the builder of the tower. They knew beforehand that the tower would shine right into those windows.

  12. This is like people who go and live next to a field and then complain about the noise and dust the farmer makes with his tractor twice a year.

  16. Man, i hate every single thing about this story -_-

    The new buildings that are bothered by something that has been there for ages… seriously

    The “let’s try and see what happens” attitude to handle the situation…

    That people emotionally opposing any change is seen as “the truth, the thing we have to follow”…

    If i’d have to list everything that’s wrong with modern society, i think those 3 things are a very good start…

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