Location: Den Helder
Top Things to do in Den Helder
10 Things to Do in Den Helder That You Shouldn't Miss
Den Helder ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula. It is home to the country's main naval base. From here the Royal TESO ferryboat service operates the transportation link between Den Helder and the nearby Dutch Wadden island of Texel to the north.
Restaurants in Den Helder
1. Marinemuseum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 270 reviews
Reviewed By Woodgates - Yorkshire
The museum covers part of the site of the former Royal Dutch Naval Dockyards, and includes main building with exhibits, films and artefacts relating to the function of the the dockyard and the associated vessels. There is a former navy submarine to visit, a battleship, minelayer/minesweeper, and the bridge and towers of a more recent naval vessel.
Be prepared to climb steps and go down narrow passageways, especially on the submarine.
Altogether a very good day visit.
2. Kaap Skil, Museum van Jutters & Zeelui
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 138 reviews
Reviewed By Marspan
This interesting and beautiful modern building by Mecanoo architects houses actually several expositions, both in the building itself and outside in the garden, in several other old buildings. Downstairs a very well made and interesting exposition about the history of the isle Texel (I had forgotten why we have a Tesselschadestraat in Amsterdam) and upstairs a just as well made, but totally different exposition about treasure diving around Texel. By the way, I write this in English, but the museum is all Dutch.
3. Landgoed Hoenderdaell
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 205 reviews
Reviewed By waltervp - Devonport, Australia
Not exactly your regular zoo. Very relaxed visit with enclosures you walk through. Lion feeding demonstrations and actual interactive birds of prey displays where kids are asked to participate. Reasonably priced outdoor environment with basoc snacks and good coffee available. Definitely worth a visit for animal lovers.
4. Floratuin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Jan-Marthie
The beauty of Floratuin is that it is of the beaten track.
Floratuin offers a fair selection of bulbs of all kinds and has very friendly staff to assist.
A stop worth visiting if you want to buy some of the bulbs at very reasonable costs.
5. Fort Kijkduin (Museum and Aquarium)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 115 reviews
Reviewed By RHAHJ - Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Fort Kijkduin was built by Napoleon after the failed Anglo-Russian invasion of North-Holland. It has undergone a few transformations since then, with the lighthouse being removed and rebuilt a little further on the dunes. Different rooms tell different phases of the history, with a focus on the Napoleonic time and world war 2. A wing and machine gun of a Messerschmitt that went down in the IJsselmeer are on display, as well as several other guns and cannons. From the dome cannonfire was guided to its target in WW2. Now it offers an excellent view over the dunes and the sea. One of the three underground tunnels, connecting different parts of the fort, can still be walked through. I've seen better Aquariums, but it is a good way to use some of the space in the fort. The skeleton of a sperm whale on display in the basement is quite impressive. The personnel was happy to give me a private guided tour, which was very informative. I thought it particularly informative that a Russian map of Den Helder, from the cold war era, revealed that nuclear war heads were (and possibly still are!) stationed on the east side of Den Helder. I spent about 3 hours in the fort.
6. Texel Brewery
Overall Ratings
4 based on 106 reviews
Award winning craft brewery with a simple Terrace outside and tables inside. A nice little tour that offers 4 small tasters at the end. Tours are in Dutch and German, but the staff speak English. Friendly, interesting and very nice beers.
Reviewed By Kate H - The Villages, Florida
We enjoyed the brewery tour although it was conducted in German. Luckily we have been on similar tours so we could figure out what the brewing process was. The beer tasting at the end was great. The outside eating area was nice and we ordered some appetizers to eat with the beer we drank. Too bad they don't export their beer. We couldn't even find it in Den Haag. Fortunately we bought some at the brewery.
7. Nationaal Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
Reviewed By solomon5 - Florida
This museum is very hard to find. It is in the naval yard on the opposite end from the Maritime Museum but the signage is terrible. It is a beautiful and well organized museum with wonderful docents who are very helpful. There is a free audio tour but items on it are limited. We had a very enjoyable visit.
8. De Helderse Vallei
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By JohnMelhus - Stjordal, Norway
We visited De Helderse Vallei this september and it was a great success especially for our 3 year old son. This Dutch Kinderboederij -(a "childrens farm") is a place where children can see and meet farm animals up close. Every farm animal was represented: Cows, goats, various birds, horses, etc...
Especially the Dwarf goats were a huge success because we were allowed to walk amongst them, pet them and even feed them (with pellets availlable from a little vending machine) (Take care though they get very enthusiastic).
The staff are very friendly and helpful! All in all it is a nice stop if you are in Den Helder with a kid.
9. De Klimvallei
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Sydney V - Texas
Kayaking the canals was beautiful and fun, and for a good price! However, other first time kayakers, beware that the routes take longer than you think - we rented for two hours, and it took us an hour to get halfway down one route on the map. It was still very fun though! One staff member was a little slow and not very helpful, but the one who checked us out was very friendly.
10. Oranjerie De Groene Parel Den Helder
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By bas k - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
This garden offers a Japanese brook garden and several tropical hot-houses featuring orchids and cacti.Birds,gold-fish and Koi and butterfly live among the exotic vegetation.5euro entry.
TAGS
