Retrofit lighting for Bourtange
Preserving Bourtange’s heritage through sustainable, futureproof lighting
Bourtange is a unique, star-shaped fortified village located in the province of Groningen. Originally built in 1593, it was designed to control the only road through the marshlands that connected Germany to the city of Groningen. Today, the village has been meticulously restored to its 1742 appearance and is a living open-air museum, where history and modern life coexist.
To better serve both residents and visitors, the local authorities decided to update the public lighting. The project focused on using modern lighting technology to create a more sustainable infrastructure, while reducing costs and ensuring that the street lights preserved the historic character of the village.
Retrofit LED kit for sustainable lighting
The municipality of Westerwolde wanted to preserve the authentic ambiance of the village by keeping their traditional VALENCAY lanterns. Public Lighting Manager Henk Arendshorst contacted us to discuss how we could modernise the technology while maintaining the aesthetic.
We proposed retrofitting the existing luminaires, which were still in excellent condition, with our CIRCLE LED BASE. Thanks to a custom-made plate, this retrofit kit fits perfectly into the VALENCAY, enabling the village to switch to more energy-efficient LED lighting without changing the luminaire.
Customer
Municipality of Westerwolde
Application(s)
It's great to see how we can make a luminaire that we installed back in 2008 completely futureproof again with a relatively simple intervention.
Bennie Lanting
Project Manager - CityTec
A total of 90 VALENCAY luminaires in the village were retrofitted with CIRCLE LED BASE kits. As Bourtange is renowned for its historic character, the kits are equipped with warm white LEDs (2,700K) that complement the village's atmosphere perfectly.
The CIRCLE LED BASE has IP 66 protection, preserving the technical components from harsh weather conditions and ensuring a low-maintenance solution that will generate savings for the municipality.
The municipality has applied a dimming profile to adjust the lighting according to the time of day, which will reduce energy consumption and increase the luminaires' service life.
For a unique location such as Bourtange, it is important to strike a balance between history and modern technology. This retrofit solution allowed the village to retain its traditional lanterns while meeting current energy efficiency and service life requirements. This is precisely what Schréder stands for: sustainable innovation that respects the environment.
Machdor Langeweg
Area Sales Manager - Schréder
Smooth installation thanks to on-going collaboration
CityTec, who originally installed the luminaires in 2008, upgraded them with the CIRCLE LED BASE retrofit kits. According to Lanting, collaborating with Schréder was a smooth and professional process: “Schréder provided excellent support. They actively contributed ideas for the right technical solution and provided clear installation instructions, which made the process even smoother.”
Public lighting that connects history and the future
By retrofitting the VALENCAY luminaires with the latest LED technology, Bourtange is taking an important step towards a more energy-efficient and sustainable future. By modernising the existing luminaires rather than replacing them, the municipality is saving raw materials, energy and costs. At the same time, the historic character of the fortified town is being preserved for residents and visitors alike.
