At a height of 197 feet (60 m) it is the twenty-fourth tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world,[2] as well as the third tallest brick lighthouse in the world.

The lighthouse is located at the west side of the Borkum Island.

It is the landfall light for the Ems estuary and the port of Emden, serving also as a day mark.

The tower was built in the summer of 1879 in a record time of six months, following a fire at the old lighthouse.

The site is open, and the tower is open to the public daily April through October and on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday afternoons November through March.