Blue diamond shaped light in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands [Likely a Crane Light]

[Daves!]

Maybe someone can shed a light on this and try to figure it out what this is ?

On the Dutch website where people can report UFO's there was a sighting reported of a blue square shaped light in the sky.
This was reported to be seen in the night of 18th of January 2025 around 22:00 in the city of Zoetermeer.

Location is here https://maps.app.goo.gl/vJneuoEd7Xjx1eai6
The person reported it didnt know how long it was there nor for how long, watched it for a short time and decided to walk on further.
Also it didnt move nor made it sound.
There was no visible light from the ground, but the person thought that it could be a hologram or something like that or a laser.

EXIF data can been found on the site where the picture was uploaded, just click on the picture the EXIF data can be found in the right corner
https://www.ufomeldpunt.nl/melding/19212-een-ruitvormig-blauw-licht-te-zien-het-bewoog-niet

Im puzzled what can create this in the sky, my first thought was a reflection but im not so sure if it is that.
Any help and insight what it can be is much appreciated.

 

[Mick West]

I suspect that's a cropped image, and a reflection of a window or streetlight.
[EDIT: I was wrong]

 

[Mick West]

Here's a better street view:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.061767,4.4939384,3a,43y,74.87h,94.17t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sMGLwQRYKDccOzDmzJ4YlQg!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=-4.166341049703391&panoid=MGLwQRYKDccOzDmzJ4YlQg&yaw=74.86564660525652!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEyOS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

 

[Mick West]

It could also be a screen on a blimp.
[EDIT: Closer, but also wrong]

 

[Ravi]

It could also be a screen on a blimp.

I would consider this option unlikely, being from this region. Almost no blimps are floating in this country, and surely none with screens.
I tend to lean towards a faked case, but can't prove it yet.

 

[Favious M]

I would lean towards it being shot through a window and it being a reflection. To me it looks like a phone screen, possibly with a messaging app opened on it

 

[Mick West]

I would lean towards it being shot through a window and it being a reflection. To me it looks like a phone screen, possibly with a messaging app opened on it

The location matches the street view, which is in the middle of a walkway, so no window. If it's a reflection it's a sensor reflection (a type of lens flare). But that would mean the image is cropped.

 

[JMartJr]

Might also be a reflection in a window of something behind the camera... assuming it is from behind a window, which it might not be?

Also, noticed this when stepping back one from Micks street view -- what appears to be interestingly rectangular street lights...

 

[Ann K]

There's a texture to the lighted portion, suggesting that it's either a composite of a number of lights, or perhaps a lighted billboard with a couple of lines of words on it. My first thought was it looked like stadium lighting, but a sign of some sort looks more probable. Whatever is supporting it isn't showing up in the dark.

 

[Favious M]

The location matches the street view, which is in the middle of a walkway, so no window. If it's a reflection it's a sensor reflection (a type of lens flare). But that would mean the image is cropped.

Could the shot not be taken from within the cafe using the one of the telephoto lenses?

Nevermind, just noticed the more detailed EXIF data and it says it's at 23mm

 

[JMartJr]

The location matches the street view, which is in the middle of a walkway, so no window.

I wonder if one could get a close enough angle from one of these windows -- looking roughly 180 degrees from the street view you posted? Maybe not easily, might need to crouch down...

 

[Ravi]

@JMartJr

Your image showing the LED street light might as well be the culprit? If the image is cropped, it could be.. The image does show a faint bluish wash on the bottom, like something has been cut off.

 

[Trailblazer]

The Aug 2024 imagery has a crane in that exact location. Might it still be there? Or a light on whatever was/is being built there?

 

[Favious M]

The Aug 2024 imagery has a crane in that exact location. Might it still be there? Or a light on whatever was/is being built there?

View attachment 76858

Surely we'd see some other evidence of the crane.

On the point a few have mentioned about cropping. According to the EXIF data the resolution is 1241x1457 with the closest aspect ratio being 16:18 which I doubt is a standard aspect ratio on the S23 Ultra (on my android phone I only have 4:3 or 16:9) so to me, both the low resolution and weird aspect ratio suggest the image is indeed cropped

 

[Trailblazer]

Surely we'd see some other evidence of the crane.

Yes, you would think so. The sky isn't all that dark so some sort of silhouette would be visible. Just seemed an odd coincidence.

Lightening the image to the limit of resolution doesn't show anything there.

 

[JMartJr]

The Aug 2024 imagery has a crane in that exact location. Might it still be there? Or a light on whatever was/is being built there?

The sky isn't all that dark so some sort of silhouette would be visible. Just seemed an odd coincidence.

Lightening the image to the limit of resolution doesn't show anything there.

I tend to agree, but would note that IF an invisible (low clouds?) crabne WERE there, they do often have light rectangular display signs on them...

 

[Mick West]

Note the three panels seem to match (if the crane was at a different angle)

 

[Duke]

There's a texture to the lighted portion, suggesting that it's either a composite of a number of lights, or perhaps a lighted billboard with a couple of lines of words on it. My first thought was it looked like stadium lighting, but a sign of some sort looks more probable. Whatever is supporting it isn't showing up in the dark.
View attachment 76856

Just to the right of where the vertical and horizontal members of the crane meet, there is what appears to be a square, white sign with "a couple lines of words" on it. From the right angle, it could appear diamond shaped.

 

[Mick West]

It does seem like the most likely thing...

 

[Favious M]

View attachment 76867
It does seem like the most likely thing...

Yeah it all seems to line up for the most part

I'm just amazed there's no other trace of the crane, but that's more of a "that's what my brain expects" thing than anything based in fact

 

[Ravi]

Yeah it all seems to line up for the most part

I'm just amazed there's no other trace of the crane, but that's more of a "that's what my brain expects" thing than anything based in fact

Agree. But, (not sure how much it helps) it was rather misty at night in this area of the country around those days.

 

[Daves!]

if i look at the weather back then, it was very foggy. In the Netherlands there was for many days a very dense thick fog.
That could probably explain a Crain wasnt visible ?

 

[Favious M]

if i look at the weather back then, it was very foggy. In the Netherlands there was for many days a very dense thick fog.
That could probably explain a Crain wasnt visible ?

This must be the case. Everything lines up, the text pattern on the sign, the location of the crane and the foggy weather all combined is the most logical answer

 

[Ravi]

I live about 10km from there, but it is just a bit too far to just go and check it out.

 

[Matt33]

Solved in 2 hours. Not bad.

 

[Mick West]

Just one more, overlapping the 2024 street view with the image, the size of the panels is a match. The position isn't perfect (as the camera position isn't perfect). But really, it would be the world's biggest coincidence if this wasn't it.

Now we just need to persuade @Ravi to go take a look

 

[Daves!]

Solved in 2 hours. Not bad.

Gotta love these guys

 

[Giddierone]

Reminds me of the 138m tall Liverpool Radio Tower which when seen in the right misty conditions can look like a UFO.

 

[Ann K]

The position isn't perfect

Cranes move. It may have slued around to another angle as it worked.

 

[Mick West]

Cranes move. It may have slued around to another angle as it worked.

Yes, I mean the center position isn't correct. Not an issue, though.

 

[Giddierone]

View attachment 76866

Note the three panels seem to match (if the crane was at a different angle)

Going to hazard a guess that this is what the sign looks like up close. [names of the builders of the https://samzoetermeer.nl/#locatie]

A similar angle of the crane taken from the buildings website with "blue diamond" inset.

 

[deirdre]

an aerial view. pink circle is @Trailblazer location. apparently the bigger crane with the STATON sign is a big deal because there are other videos on youtube too.

2nd video

cropped from above pic^^

 

[deirdre]

2020 but cool video of fog hiding cranes but near buildings still clear

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go1dqj9fYk8

 

[Trailblazer]

I posted the crane picture last night as a bit of a throwaway suggestion, not really convinced it was the answer. But yes the subsequent posts do make sense.

 

[deirdre]

Going to hazard a guess that this is what the sign looks like up close.

i thought you posted 2 different companies..but that is what the sign looks like (from their FB page)

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=122141856920378204&set=pb.61561346133133.-2207520000&type=3

 

[Trailblazer]

i thought you posted 2 different companies..but that is what the sign looks like (from their FB page)
View attachment 76889
View attachment 76891

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=122141856920378204&set=pb.61561346133133.-2207520000&type=3

The UFO sighting probably would not have happened in December or early January...

 

[deirdre]

The UFO sighting probably would not have happened in December or early January...View attachment 76892

it would be a cooler looking ufo pic if the tree had been there .

 

[Giddierone]

that is what the sign looks like

Also what the "blue diamond" looks like.

 

[Mick West]

View attachment 76866

Note the three panels seem to match (if the crane was at a different angle)

Funny, I thought that was three panels, but the "lines" between the panels are actually text, and it's just one panel.

I should bookmark this thread for when people ask for examples of when I get things wrong.

 

[deirdre]

Funny, I thought that was three panels, but the "lines" between the panels are actually text, and it's just one panel.

I should bookmark this thread for when people ask for examples of when I get things wrong.

that's a pretty lame "wrong".

we could start a thread on all the times you were wrong, if it would help you out