The Helderse Vallei is the starting point of the 4 well-marked canoe routes from Den Helder with various footbridges along the way. In addition, Den Helder has various waterways that are easily accessible for canoes. The city and defense route (red route, 6 km there and 6 km back) passes Fort Dirks Admiraal, Fort Erfprins, Fort Westoever, the line and Willemsoord. Den Helder has a special line of defense that runs right through the city. This line of defense was built to protect Willemsoord, once the port and shipyard of our fleet, from attacks from the land. A visit to Willemsoord guarantees a pleasant day! Fort Westoever was built around 1825 to defend the newly built North Holland Canal against attacks on the port of Den Helder. In 1954 the fort was taken over by the Royal Netherlands Navy. They set up an emergency diesel power plant in the fort. Fort Westoever is the last link in the chain of forts, the passage to Willemsoord and the outer harbor. Fort Dirksz. Admiral is a living history book. From 1812-1813 the fortress was built by the French. In the years 1880-1890 the fortress was equipped with bomb-proof shelters. During the German occupation, the fortress was converted into an anti-aircraft battery. Fort Erfprins is not only the largest fort at 49 hectares, but also has the longest Bombproof barracks in the Netherlands. It is a 3 pentagonal bastion with 3 ravelins and an envelope. To this day, the fort is used by the Ministry of Defense. On the south side of Fort Erfprins are the remains of the oldest surviving defense system of the Den Helder Defense Line: Kaaphoofd Battery. Fort Kijkduin (museum and saltwater aquarium), Fort Harssens and Fort Oostoever are also part of the Den Helder defense line, but do not directly border the route.
De Stad- en Stellingroute
Nearby locations
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Pale 0
Special border between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site.
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Angenietea’s
Be welcome in the coziest Tea Room in Den Helder. Imagine yourself in the atmosphere of the 1920s. Here you can drink tea from one of the most colorful cups we have or enjoy a fragrant cup of Fairtrade Colombian coffee. With a homemade cake on the side, the moment of enjoyment cannot be broken. Or order warm scones! Do you want to taste more? Then book a luxury High Tea. Hat on and pinky up enjoying the togetherness and the sweet and savory delicacies. Nice for a birthday, baby shower or family outing.
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Vice Versa
Lunch, coffee or late-night snack with a view of the planes taking off
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Stelling Den Helder
Old defense line with forts, bunkers and routes through the city and dunes
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Uitkijktoren Helderse Vallei
Climb this steel tower for the view, darkness, and the starry sky.
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Balgzandpolder
The Balgzandpolder is entirely designed for birds. You always see birds here resting or looking for food. At high tide in the Wadden Sea there are extra birds to be seen here. They can often be admired from a short distance via a viewing screen. Birds that you can see, for example, are spoonbills, many species of ducks, large groups of oystercatchers and redshanks and amongst them rarer birds such as spotted redshanks and greenshanks.
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Restaurant Da Gino
Italian atmosphere and taste in the heart of Den Helder
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Billiard- and snookercenter Den Helder
A night out with friends, a game of pool, billiard or snooker, all whilst enjoying a craft beer from the tap? Or would you rather go to battle in our 400 square meter lasertag arena? Everything is possible at the Billiard- and snookercenter!
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Marina W.S.V. Onrust
The marina of our organization is situated around the ''Onrust'' area. On the one side the basin and the Spoorharbor, and at the other side the Canal of Den Helder. In total we have around 100 berths. The births vary in size from 6 meters to around 17 meters.