The water around Den Helder

On this walking tour you will get to know the Defense Line of Den Helder and the ports of this naval city. You will see a number of forts from the position that were built from 1810 on behalf of Napoleon Bonaparte. During his visit to Den Helder, he called this town the Gibraltar of the North because of its strategic location. You walk part of the route on the dike along the North Sea. You have a wide view over the waves, and in clear weather you can see Texel. On the other side of the dike are Den Helder and Fort Erfprins, which, at 49 hectares, forms the largest fortress within the Defense Line of Den Helder. On the south side of this pentagonal fortress are the remains of the oldest defense structure still present: Battery Cape Head.

After a few kilometers you will reach Fort Kijkduin and walk through the village of Huisduinen back towards Den Helder. The route leads you to the ports via the scaffolding moat. Den Helder is the home port of the Dutch navy, there is a good chance that you can spot one or more interesting (naval) ships.