De Vuurtoren Rond — spread and cover of the photo book.

Around the Lighthouse

Edition of 750 Later €65
EN & NL Incl. shipping NL

A photo book about life around the lighthouse of Workum — On the edge of the IJsselmeer, where land, wind and water constantly meet, Cornelie and Reid († 2020) have lived in the rhythm of this place for decades. Their world moves with the seasons: with animals and garden, harvest, silence, storm. A way of life that has become rare: simple, self-sufficient and deeply connected to nature.

For four seasons, photographer Loek Buter and Jasper Hauser, Reid’s grandson, returned to the lighthouse. Loek (two-time Zilveren Camera winner) photographed with his medium-format camera, slowly and attentively. In his first photo book, those images come together with personal texts by Loek and Jasper, about memory, perspective and the question of what a place preserves over the years.

Open photo book on lap with images from De Vuurtoren Rond.
Open photo book on lap
Open book with a photo of Reid asleep by the window.
Reid asleep by the window
Special edition of De Vuurtoren Rond with two prints.

Special Edition

  • Exclusive for €125
  • 25 limited copies
  • Book + two prints, 30 x 30 cm
  • English & Dutch
  • Numbered book and prints
  • Signed by Loek & Jasper
Standard edition of De Vuurtoren Rond.

Standard Edition

  • €55 pre-order / €65 later
  • Small edition of 750
  • 172 pages, 20 × 25 cm
  • Canvas hardcover
  • English & Dutch
  • Includes shipping Netherlands
Quote from National Geographic Magazine.
Open book with a photo of the dike around the lighthouse.
Dike around the lighthouse
Top view of De Vuurtoren Rond with blossom details.
Blossom details

Specifications

  • Bound hardcover
  • Canvas with photo inset
  • 172 pages, 150 gsm
  • 20.7 × 25.7 cm, 900 g
  • Printed by Printer Trento
  • Dutch and English
  • ISBN 9789465264868
Open book with winter pages from De Vuurtoren Rond.
Winter pages
Top view of book details and page edges.
Page edges
Detail of a curling page in De Vuurtoren Rond.
Curling page
Open book with index pages of De Vuurtoren Rond.
Index pages

Published in:

Logos of publications in which De Vuurtoren Rond has appeared.
Open book with the Summer abundance page and a photo of flowers.
Summer abundance
Detail photo from De Vuurtoren Rond.
Detail photo

About the makers

Loek Buter — is a documentary photographer for National Geographic Magazine, de Volkskrant, Trouw, Stern and GEO Magazine. His photography focuses on the relationship between people, nature and the Dutch landscape. His photo series have won multiple Zilveren Camera awards and were exhibited at Kunsthal Rotterdam and Fotomuseum Den Haag. He studied at the Fotoacademie in Amsterdam. He lives with his wife and three daughters on a small farm in North Holland.

Jasper Hauser — is the grandson of † Reid de Jong and a technology entrepreneur, founder of the Apple Design Award-winning photo editing app Darkroom, among others. He specialises in digital product design and strategy. He studied photography at the Fotoacademie in Amsterdam and graphic design at HKU University of the Arts Utrecht.

Portrait of Cornelie and † Reid together.

Frequently asked questions

Everything about ordering, shipping and the two editions — in brief.

When will pre-order customers receive their copy?

All press proofs have been approved and Printer Trento is binding the books. We expect to start shipping in early June, before the launch on 6 June. Once your package is on its way, you will receive an email with the shipping date and tracking if available.

How long does the pre-order price apply?

Order before the launch on 6 June for €55. After that, the price rises to €65 while supplies last.

Is the print run really limited?

Yes. The standard edition is 750 copies, the special edition 25. No reprint is planned — when the edition sells out, the book is sold out.

What is the difference between the standard and special edition?

The standard edition (€55 pre-order, edition 750) is a canvas hardcover of 172 pages. The special edition (€125, edition 25) includes the same book, numbered and signed by Loek and Jasper, plus two signed prints of 30 × 30 cm.

Is the standard copy signed?

No. Only the special edition (edition 25) is numbered and signed by Loek and Jasper. The standard copy is not signed.

Is the book bilingual?

Yes. The book is bilingual: texts and typography are included in both Dutch and English.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. Shipping within the Netherlands is included in the pre-order price. For orders to other countries, shipping costs are calculated at checkout in the webshop.

Are the photos in the book the same as on the website?

Partly. The book builds on the online season series, but is a standalone work: a different selection, extra images, larger reproductions and new texts — meant for the shelf, not as a paper copy of the site.

Is there a digital version?

No — this photo book is only available as a hardcover. The season stories on this website remain free to read online; the book is a separate, expanded edition on paper.

Can I buy the book in a store?

Not everywhere yet. We are working on sales through physical and online bookstores, including bol.com and Amazon.nl. Sign up for the newsletter — we will let you know when the book becomes more widely available.

I am a bookseller — can I sell the book?

Absolutely. Contact us at info@devuurtorenrond.nl — we will gladly send you information about wholesale and in-store sales.

What if my book arrives damaged?

Every copy is shipped in plastic against water damage, in a sturdy box that also protects against bumps — we do everything we can to prevent damage in transit. If your book still arrives damaged, email info@devuurtorenrond.nl with photos. We will send a replacement copy as soon as possible.

Fine art print from De Vuurtoren Rond held in hands.

Fine art prints

Would you like an image from De Vuurtoren Rond on your wall? Loek Buter offers selected photographs from the book as museum-quality fine art prints, printed and finished as you would expect from his work.

Order via loekbuter.com. Besides prints, Loek also offers photo commissions, photography courses, photography workshops and personal coaching sessions.