faves in the KOP

Enjoy all kinds of classic ships, characteristic buildings and maritime craft activities. Visit a very special lightship, take a tour on a classic tugboat or take a day trip on a boat! Good for a wonderful day (or several!) out, especially in combination with the Navy Museum, the National Rescue Museum Dorus Rijkers and the cozy terraces and restaurants!

If you are in Petten aan Zee, be sure to take a look at the Palendorp monument on the beach near Bergeendstraat. This beautiful work of art consists of 160 poles of six to twelve meters in length. The poles are in the shape of ten houses and a church. It is a reminder of old Petten, which was flooded by the sea long ago.

When you look towards Den Helder, at night you can see a bright light shining from miles away (33,5 miles to be exact!). It's ''De Lange Jaap''; the symbol of Den Helder. It is the tallest cast-iron lighthouse of Europa, and the second-highest lighthouse in the Netherlands. It towers above everything else at 63 meters tall.

Follow in the footsteps of Napoleon Did you know that sharks live in the North Sea? Would you dare to feed them? This is possible in the North Sea aquarium of Fort Kijkduin! A visit to the aquarium is an exciting and educational adventure where you learn everything about the underwater life in the Wadden and North Sea. Spectacular is the 15-metre-long walk-through tunnel. The historical museum of the fort is also very interesting. Walk through underground tunnels and discover 200 years of military history about Den Helder and the Napoleonic fortress itself. The new family exhibition explores the lives and work of the soldiers stationed in the fort in 1939 during the mobilization of the Dutch army.

Nowhere can you sleep as close to the sea as when you sleep in De Kustwachttoren. This unique holiday apartment is situated in the lovely coastal town Huisduinen. This former coastguard tower has been transformed into a stunning apartment with a spectacular view across land and sea. The apartment is situated on the third, fourth and fifth floor of the former coastguard tower. De Kustwachttoren has been renovated while maintaining its original character, providing you with a special view from anywhere in the apartment.

The Regional Museum offers newspapers, photographs, uniforms and equipment will show you a vieuw of the second world war in Northern Holland and West Friesland.

The Wadden Experience Point in Den Oever is a viewpoint over the Wadden Sea. You can look out over the 't Schor nature reserve, the dam with the largest spoonbill colony in Europe (Vogelsandt), the former island of Wieringen, the harbor of Den Oever and the Afsluitdijk.

Experience the tulip splendor at Land van Fluwel. The tulip splendor at Land van Fluwel is at its best in the spring! From the 11-meter-high lookout tower you have a beautiful view of the flower bulb fields in the area.