The transformation of lighting at the Lauwersmeer military base

Located in the tranquil Lauwersmeer region, the military base known as training and shooting range Marnewaard and training village Marnehuizen - officially the Willem Lodewijk van Nassaukazerne - once casted an overwhelming orange glow that obscured the night sky. 

Marnehuizen seemingly is a typical Dutch village, complete with fake amenities like a train station and a bank, but serves a unique purpose: it is a training ground for military exercises, simulating urban environments. However, beneath this facade lies an impressive story of transformation, where innovative lighting solutions turned a glaring problem into a shining example of environmental stewardship.

Driving through the night from Ulrum to Lauwersoog, the blinding orange glow of Marnehuizen was once unmistakable. The base’s yellow-orange lamps lit up the area and caused heavy light pollution, disturbing the natural darkness of the night sky. But this was about to change. The first awareness of the problem began when Staatsbosbeheer (SBB) and the University of Groningen (RUG) started working toward the creation of a Dark Sky Park and approached the military about their lighting. At the time, the military did not take action. However, a few years later, when the base’s lighting system had to be replaced, they remembered these earlier conversations and decided to choose a more sustainable solution. In this way, they recognized the negative impact of their lighting and chose to act, not only to protect the environment but also to save on costs. Because of its close location to the Dark Sky Park Lauwersmeer, changing the lighting at the military base was especially urgent and important.

On February 7, 2018, a milestone was reached when the Ministry of Defence and the Programme naar een Rijke Waddenzee (“Towards a Rich Wadden Sea”) signed a declaration, marking the military's official participation in the Dark Sky World Heritage Wadden Sea initiative. This commitment was celebrated with the official inauguration of the new sustainable lighting system. The initiative aims to protect the national park Lauwersmeer, habitat to many local and migratory birds and other species. As designated Dark Sky Park, Lauwersmeer is one of the last places in the Netherlands where the full spectrum of stars, planets and other astronomical objects can be observed.