De Stad- en Stellingroute

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.