Den Helder is the perfect destination if you're toying with the idea of popping over to the biggest of the Dutch Wadden Sea islands during your trip to the Netherlands.
The municipality of Den Helder was established at the beginning of the 16th century and quickly grew into a major harbour. It was also one of the hardest hit cities in the Second World War. A lot of the city was quickly rebuilt after the war.
There's a lot to see and do in and around Den Helder, and the harbour is a good place to start. Here you’ll find the Marinemuseum, which is close to the ferry terminal. There are a lot of beautiful ships to see and a lot to learn about Den Helder's maritime history.
Just outside of town, in Huisduinen, you’ll find Fort Kijkduin, which was built at the beginning of the 19th century by Napoleon Bonaparte and is quite an impressive sight. The fort is currently home to a museum and an aquarium. The countryside around Den Helder is best explored by bicycle.
Nature lovers will love the nature around Den Helder. Visit Timorpark, discover the beautiful nature of Quelderduyn or explore the peaceful De Nollen park. If you're interested in taking in some island life, pop over to Texel for a day or maybe two. Go for a walk in the dunes and the woods, and visit the Cultuurhistorisch Museum and Ecomare with the kids. The crossing takes 20 minutes and there's a ferry every 30 minutes. Perfect!
Den Helder is easy to reach by train from Nijmegen, Utrecht and Amsterdam. If you’re travelling by car and coming from the northeast of the Netherlands, drive across the Afsluitdijk. If you're coming from Amsterdam, follow the A7.
Den Helder is a great place to stay, even if you don't plan on visiting Texel. It has a lot of nature, history and museums. What are you waiting for?
