Red Sand: Petition for preservation reaches over 5,000 votes!

Red Sand: Petition for preservation reaches over 5,000 votes!

The “Roter Sand” lighthouse is currently a hotly debated topic on the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony. Loud NDR A petition for its preservation has received over 5,000 votes, which is now forcing the Lower Saxony state parliament to deal with the fate of the listed building. The 140-year-old lighthouse, which is considered a masterpiece of engineering and was the first structure to be built on the seabed, is said to be threatened in terms of stability, according to a 2019 report.

A well-founded call to save the lighthouse comes from the German Foundation for Monument Protection (DSD). Its spokeswoman, Ursula Schirmer, expresses concerns about the safety of the lighthouse and points to the increasing risk of collapse due to climate change, higher waves and rising water. The federal government is currently examining whether the lighthouse should be moved to the coast for safety reasons. An outrage for the initiator of the petition, Dieter Riemer, who sees a move as destroying the original.

Locations and interested parties

The discussion about preserving the “Red Sand” has aroused the interest of several municipalities. Applicants for a possible relocation include Wilhelmshaven, Bremerhaven, Hooksiel and Fedderwardersiel, such as denkmalschutz.de reported. Three possible locations have already emerged, with environmental regulations, monument protection and accessibility playing an important role.

The DSD has owned the lighthouse since 1987 and is not surprised by the success of the petition. She sees relocation of the “Red Sand” as the only sustainable solution, although the Leuchtturm Roter Sand e.V. support association is vehemently committed to preserving it at the original location. The global value of the lighthouse could be further secured by its inclusion in the German list of proposals for world cultural heritage.

Public debate and resistance

The deadline to collect signatures for the petition is currently October 20, 2025. There is currently an intense debate about whether it is better to move the lighthouse to a safe location or restore it to its original location. While some see a move as necessary, others fear that the cultural significance of the lighthouse could be lost.

The emotional connection between the “Roter Sand” lighthouse and emigrants and sailors gives the dispute a very special touch. The dynamic between the arguments for promising on-site redevelopment and the risk of dereliction reflects the complex situation in which the lighthouse finds itself and is causing public concern. The well-known lighthouse not only remains a quarter for shipping traffic, but also influences the history and cultural memory of the region.

In the next few weeks it will be crucial to see how the situation develops and what decisions the Lower Saxony state parliament will make. The “Red Sand” may be in the North Sea, but it is firmly anchored in people’s hearts. The coastal towns are vying for a solution that knows how to preserve their heritage. While uncertainties increase, the lighthouse remains an enduring symbol of German maritime history.

Further information can be found at roter-sand.de.