Designed by architect Niels Sigfred Nebelong, it was brought into operation on 1 November 1858.

[3] The Skagen Lighthouse which replaced it consists of an unpainted round brick tower with a lantern and gallery, reaching a height of 46 m (151 ft).

The two-storey keeper's house to which it is attached is painted bright yellow.

When it was built it was more or less at the centre of the Skagen Odde peninsula, but as a result of coastal erosion, it is now very near the Kattegat coast to the southeast.

[6] Skagen and the Grenen area is known for its wide range of migrating birds, so the lighthouse is a perfect place for birdwatching.