The lighthouse was designed by Quirinus Harder and construction began on 25 July 1863.

The lighthouse was built on top of a 20-metre high sand dune, and was lit on 1 November 1864.

The current (electrical) lamp is a 2000 watt Philips fluorescent lamp, producing 2.85 million candela, and the light is focused with a number of Fresnel lenses.

The lighthouse was originally red, but in the course of time that colour faded to pink.

During the Georgian Uprising of Texel of April 1945 the lighthouse suffered heavy damage.