Things to do & places to visit in Den Helder, North Holland Province, The Netherlands

Den Helder city in , North Holland Province, The Netherlands. Timezone: Europe/Amsterdam, current date and time: Thursday, May 16, 2024, 3:04.

Den Helder Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

56°F - 50°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Moderately chilly and breezy

Feels like

23%

Chance of rain

70.0 millimeters

Amount

16.9 mph

Wind speed

78%

Humidity

15.8

Daylight length

5:44 AM

Sunrise

9:30 PM

Sunset

48%

Cloud cover

Jacket

What to wear

Top things to do (23)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 De Nollen (13 reviews)
- Magnificent monumental sculptures of international stature
Thursday: 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Parks

Project "De Nollen" is a 15 hectare dune area near Den Helder that features huge metal sculptures by the Dutch artist R.W. van de Wint (1942-2006). The sculpture park is currently being developed to improve various facilities, but it is open to visitors. Van de Wint's two sons, Ruud and Gijs, are in charge of maintaining and promoting the art space. The rough, mostly rust-brown art objects are anchored in, and sometimes impressively fuse with, WWII bunkers. They merge beautifully with the unadorned dune landscape. Wandering around, the visitor continually discovers unexpected perspectives on the sculptures, some of which are reflected in artificial ponds. Several objects can, under the guidance of a volunteer, be entered -- revealing interiors with colourfully abstract paintings and natural light-play. One of them is, intriguingly, accessed via an underground tunnel, lit by candles. There are a few parking places next to De Nollen. Train station Den Helder Zuid is located right opposite. In the reception area one can enjoy a coffee or a small snack. It also can be hired for small-scale events. You are advised to check De Nollen's website for opening times. In fact, it will be worth your while to phone ahead to make sure a guide can show you the interiors of some of the sculptures that are locked. The project also hosts a museum, in which Ruud van de Wint's paintings and drawings will be on display -- but this museum is still under construction. Whoever gasped in admiration at Ernst Veen's TV series "Gardens of Wonder," about the best private sculpture parks across the globe, will not want to miss this gem. It deserves to become world-famous -- so take advantage of visiting before vast crowds will detract from the joy of being able to explore and contemplate at your leisure. See more..
5.0 VanHaasterendeJong (7 reviews)
- Wonderful ride on the beach
Horseback Riding Tours

My teen daughter and I had a lovely time! The horses were quite fast, but it's excellent for experienced riders. See more..
5.0 Coolrider (1 review)
- Prima vervoersmiddel
Spent More than 3 hours Gear Rentals

Super vervoersmiddel. Goede service, niks teveel gevraagd.

Belde op zondagochtend op of het mogelijk is om 2 scooters huren. Een uur later stonden onze scooters klaar op locatie. See more..
4.5 Marinemuseum (424 reviews)
- Very good museum
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Military Museums • Speciality Museums

Explore past and present of the Dutch Navy at the Navy Museum. Discover 500 years of naval history in our monumental Main-building. The magnificent collection consists of ship models, paintings, uniforms, weapons and more. Stand face to face with present-day pirates and witness how the navy combats them. See more..
4.5 Nationaal Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers (79 reviews)
- Very interesting - definitely worth seeing
Speciality Museums

Very interesting and modern museum focusing on sea rescue operations including actual vehicles (boats, trucks and tractors), movies and photos, covering last 100 years of rescue operations. (+) + very interesting topic and things to see, e.g. real rescue boat or old rescue tracks, equipment and tractor + good for kids from 3 yrs up + modern and interactive + located very close to a nice restaurant so you can have a lunch afterwards + huge parking in front of the museum (you need to go around to get there) (-) - not really See more..
4.5 De Helderse Vallei (51 reviews)
- Fun
Amusement & Theme Parks

Fun and child -friendly. We stopped to take a rest and were able to relax while my daughter fed the animals, ran around and explored the area. See more..
4.5 Oranjerie De Groene Parel Den Helder (30 reviews)
- Beautiful Gardens
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Gardens

My favorite place to visit when I am in the area. It just gets bigger and more beautiful everytime I see it. Love the waterfalls, the Koi ponds, the Japanese garden, the cactus area. It is simply an amazing place that is well loved and looked after. See more..
4.5 Stadsbrouwerij Helderse Jongens (13 reviews)
- Brewery in a bunker - great value and abience
Breweries

My work coleague took us to Stadsbrouwerij Helderse Jongens one evening after a very long work day. The location is a bit out of town, along a canal. The inside looks like several connected wartiime bunkers and the decor is very well done. We all had burgers and fries and although they ended up to be pretty sloppy to eat, they were very tasty and the portions very large. I liked both beers I had and look forward to returning one day and tasting their other creations. I found the price very reasonable - very good value for money!! See more..
4.5 Teso Ferry Port (8 reviews)
- Convenient
Spent 1-2 hours Ferries

What can I say about this place? It's very convenient for using the ferry to and from Texel. Minimum waiting times when I was there. See more..
4.5 Redding museum, Den Helder (7 reviews)
- informatief museum
Speciality Museums

leuk en informatief museum, zeker voor kinderen erg leuk. Er zijn veel interactieve dingen die kinderen kunnen doen. See more..
4.5 IJssalon Aris Laan (5 reviews)
- The best in town
Art Galleries
Handmade ice cream. Family business for many many years. superb quality and taste. Nice and good ambiance and you have the possibility to sit and have a table. See more..
4.5 Bibliotheek School 7 (3 reviews)
- Prijswinnende bibliotheek.
Spent < 1 hour Libraries

The School 7 library in Den Helder has been named the best in the world. The organization received first prize in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur in the category 'new library in an existing building'. Big windows show you the world to Den Helder city and shipyard. See more..
4.0 Fort Kijkduin (Museum and Aquarium) (201 reviews)
- Nice little Museum
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Aquariums

I visited here with my cousins who had been there before but according to them the entire operation has gone downhill. Even though the money isnt there to improve the facilities and maintain it effectively, i still enjoyed the visit. The museum is small but pretty cool because it is in the old fort and is very diverse. The aquarium could have been better but it was nice because they have petting pools and you can feed the animals. There is also a giant whale skeleton in the basement which is pretty impressive. I think that if you are in the area you should visit, but it is not something that you need to go out of your way to see. See more..
4.0 Windkracht 13 (20 reviews)
- Other Roads Concert
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Great, friendly venue. Thoroughly enjoyed the concert featuring UK band, Other Roads and the meal that was served following the concert. See more..
4.0 De Kampanje, Den Helder (17 reviews)
- Beautiful Cloackroom
Theaters

Outside looks like an old building but inside is very modern. It's a big space, there are different halls. I came with a friend who had a congress here and I had a chance to look around. I love the interior of the clockroom / rest room on the basement. One side is the cloackroom and the other side is mirror, beautiful!. The location is in the Industrial area, a lot of parking place and free. See more..
4.0 Donkere Duinen (16 reviews)
- Nature reserve"Donkere Duinen"
Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

"Donkere Duinen" is the name of the nature reserve west of the town of Den Helder. There are several foot-paths discovering the forest,dunes and sandy beach and info-panels describing the plants and animals that live in the dune-area. See more..
4.0 Zorgboerderij Tesselaar (4 reviews)
- Slecht
Farms

Veel vind ik maar is tussen Tesselaar en mijn ik zal het niet aan raden ik zal beter ergerens anders kijken See more..
4.0 Rijkswerf Willemsoord (19e Eeuw) (2 reviews)
- Former stronghold of the Dutch navy
Historic Sites

A former maritime navy complex dating from the early 1800s to 1993 is now a cluster of museums, theater, cinema, cafés and restaurants. It is an interesting area to explore, even if you are not a military architecture enthusiast. The whole site is surrounded by water, though well connected to the center of town by bridges. Napoleon once called Den Helder (at the time a small village) "Gibraltar du Nord", as he saw Den Helder as a strategic location at the northwest corner of his empire. The first Dutch king decided to make it a stronghold of the royal navy. Nowadays the town has hardly any strategic significance. Willemsoord is history. See more..
4.0 Ravelijncenter (1 review)
- Groot winkelgebeuren
Shopping Malls

Veel winkels bij elkaar, vooral wat te maken heeft met wonen. Buiten. veel bekende winkelketens. Niet leuk ingericht See more..
3.5 Fort Erfprins te Den Helder (3 reviews)
- Not a tourist attraction
Spent 2-3 hours Military Museums • History Museums
We thought this is a fort you could visit... However this is a military training station and a man in uniform came up to us and told us that this is it for visitors See more..
3.5 Nationaal Monument Reddingswezen (2 reviews)
- Revealing how the Dutch political elite anno 1934 managed monuments
Monuments & Statues

It is 1928, Dorus Rijkers from Den Helder responsible for rescuing altogether more than 500 sailors (and other castaways) dies at the age of 81. A man of simple background who emerged to become a people' s hero, because of his deeds risking his own life to save others out of wreckage and rough seas over a period of 25 years. The people wanted to honour him. See how the Dutch political elite at the time handled the situation. In 1935 Wilhelmina (queen) inaugurated a buste of her late husband Hendrik (patron of the national rescue service) in front of the structure you see today. The three most important bells of the carillon in the upper part of the monument are named after Wilhelmina, Hendrik and their daughter Juliana. These people never rescued anybody, but they and their entourage used the occasion to promote themselves. Note the artists responsible for the design and artistic form of the monument did depict the heroes of the seas on the reliefs. Dorus Rijkers eventually got his monument, a bronze bust in 1939. See more..
3.0 Aquacentrum Den Helder (4 reviews)
- Swimmingpool, restrictive laneswimming possibillities
Thursday: 7:00 AM - 9:30 PM Spent More than 3 hours Sports Complexes

Aquacentrum Den Helder operates the swimming pool “Het Heersdiep”, which is owned by the municipality of Den Helder. The swimming pool offers various indoor pools, a swimming pool, an outdoor pool, a diving tower and an extensive program with various activities. The Heersdiep is a swimming pool for young and old, recreational and sporty, individual and in a club. See more..
3.0 Het Nollenlandschap (2 reviews)
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

See more..
3.0 Algemeen Weeshuis Den Helder (1851) (2 reviews)
- Orphanage used as town hall
Historic Sites

In 1927 renovated to serve as city hall, this is a simple rectangular building located in the north part of Den Helder. It used to be an orphanage. The architects did make an effort to make the structure look more nice by adding a fronton with balcony and a small tower. I wonder what the next destination of the building will be, as the authorities are planning a new city hall in the port area. See more..
3.0 Nieuwe Kerk Den Helder (2 reviews)
- Not just a church, but a cultural center as well
Churches & Cathedrals

From 1839, not a period with spectacular architecture, this new (nieuwe) church started to function as a center of the Dutch reformed community in Den Helder. In 1970 the evangelicals took over and gradually opened up the building to become a place for cultural gatherings as well. They called the church 'the embassy', a representation of god? Anyway they made the sober looking structure more welcoming. See more..
3.0 Petrus En Pauluskerk Den Helder (1840) (1 review)
- Aardige kerk
Churches & Cathedrals

De in 1840 in gebruik genomen RK-kerk aan de Kerkgracht is gewijd aan de Heilige Petrus en de Heilige Paulus en heet dan ook de Petrus en Pauluskerk. Het is een driebeukige zaalkerk met voor en achter een aardige, hoge ingezwenkte topgevel. De bouwstijl is neo-classicistisch. Op de kerk een forse dakruiter met een 8-kantige lantaarn. Aan één lengtezijde van de kerk een ruime tuin, geheel ommuurd. Aan de kerk gebouwd een grote pastorie, wsl van latere datum (laat 19e eeuws?). De hoofdingangspartij wordt geflankeerd door Dorische (pseudo?) zuilen. De aan beide zijden van de hoofdingang geplaatste zij-ingangen zijn pas in 1923 geplaatst. Om er geen misverstand over te laten verstaan dat dit een roomse kerk is werd in de voorgevel een grote zandstenen gevelsteen geplaatst met het pauselijk wapen. Best aardige kerk, niet spectaculair. See more..
3.0 Driemasterkerk Den Helder (1851) (1 review)
- Opknapbeurt gewenst
Churches & Cathedrals

De Doopsgezinde Gemeenschap van Den Helder beschikte reeds in 1702 over een eigen kerk, gebouwd van hout. De Doopgezinde Vermaning - zo noemen doopsgezinden hun kerkgebouw - aan de Kerkgracht in Den Helder werd omstreeks 1851 gebouwd en in gebruik genomen. Het gebouw staat achter de rooilijn en heeft daardoor een soort kleine voorhof. Het is een zaalkerkje, de bouwstijl is overwegend neo-gotisch. Mooie spitsramen in zijgevels, de voorgevel heeft alle kenmerken van een Vermaning, boven de ingangspartij één groot spitsboogvenster, de ingang geflankeerd door twee kleinere blinde spitsboognissen. De kerk werd van 1851 tot 1974 gebruikt door de Doopsgezinde Gemeente. Van 1974 tot 2014 bood de kerk onderdak aan Doopsgezinden, Remonstranten en Vrijzinnig Hervormden. In deze samenwerkingsperiode werd de kerk wel aangeduid als de Driemasterkerk. Vanaf 2014 huisvest de kerk een cultureel centrum (exposities, concerten, lezingen e.d.). Bij mijn bezoek was er een verbouwing gaande. Het gebouw kan ook wel een oppepper gebruiken want ziet er wat verwaarloost en somber bij. See more..
3.0 Schooten Plaza (1 review)
- Zoals zovele winkelcentra's in Nederland.
Spent < 1 hour Shopping Malls
Zoals zovele winkelcentra's in Nederland. Verder wel schoon en alle winkels die nodig zijn, zijn er. Gezellig en druk See more..
2.0 Kroonpassage (1 review)
Spent < 1 hour Shopping Malls
See more..
Toeristisch Infocentrum Den Helder - VVV NL (0 review)
Spent < 1 hour Visitor Centers
See more..