Hanstholm Lighthouse was built in 1842-43 and is located close to Hansted Church high up on Hanstholmknuden. The lighthouse was built to guide the ships in their journey, and at the same time serves as Hanstholm's landmark.

South of the lighthouse, the lighthouse keeper's residence was built, and the associated garden is a lovely, sheltered little spot where visitors can take a rest and possibly enjoy the food they have brought with them.

Hanstholm Lighthouse was Denmark's first rotating lens lighthouse, where the light was refracted by means of lenses and gathered into beam bundles. In 1889, the lighthouse apparatus was no longer up-to-date, the lighthouse was raised and the lens apparatus electrified as the first in Denmark. A clockwork made the device rotate and flash, and since 1925 the so-called lighthouse character has been three short flashes every 20 seconds.

When Hanstholm Harbor was inaugurated in 1967, the brightness of the beacons had to be lowered so as not to dazzle the ships and cutters that called at the harbour. The light of the lighthouse can now be seen approx. 40 km away and is still the strongest in Denmark.