The Kaapsduun is the highest dune in the Nesserbos near Nes on Ameland. Hidden among the trees, you will find a piece of maritime history here.
What can you expect at the Kaapsduun?The Kaapsduun is not a major attraction, but rather one of those places that makes a walk through the Nesserbos especially interesting. Among the trees, you discover a story about storms, shipping, island residents and life on Ameland in earlier times.
Historic dune in the Nesserbos: The Kaapsduun lies on a high point in the forest. Before the area was planted with trees, there was an open view of the sea from this dune. That made it an important place for shipping along Ameland.
Signal post Weest op uw hoede: In the past, there was a beacon on the Kaapsduun, a signal and lookout post with the telling name Weest op uw hoede. From here, ships were warned in strong winds, storms and dangerous weather. Flags, balls and cones were used to give signals to sailors at sea. In severe weather, the storm ball was raised. For shipping, this was an important warning signal, long before modern communication became commonplace.
The stone pillar: In the 1930s, a wooden structure was built here with a small stone pillar in the middle. The wooden construction has disappeared, but the brick pillar still stands on top of the dune. It is a small but tangible reminder of this old signal post.
From sea marker to quiet forest spot: With the arrival of the lighthouse, later the radio, and the ever taller forest, the beacon eventually lost its function. In the 1970s, the structure disappeared completely. What remains is a peaceful and historic place in the middle of the natural surroundings.
Display Kaapsduun