Den Helder travel guide

Den Helder is the northernmost settlement on the mainland of Noord Holland. Den Helder is named as such since 1928. Before that, the city was called Helder, but was also referred to as t Nieuwediep and Willemsoord. Den Helder was the local name, which was solidified as the town name in 1928. Den Helder has been an island town up to 1610, when the Zanddijk between Callantsoog and Huisduinen was completed. The town was a naval one, with most of its income coming from fishing. East of the town was the Nieuwediep inlet, which formed a natural harbour.

Getting in

Den Helder has two train stations to its name, these being Den Helder and Den Helder Zuid. Both of these are on the same line that terminates at Den Helder. From here, two train services connect to the rest of the country. Both follow the same route up to Utrecht via Amsterdam, from which one goes to Nijmegen via Arnhem and the other goes to Maastricht via Eindhoven. Both trains are Intercity services, meaning that they stop only at the major stations. Travelling to Den Helder, however, the train becomes a stopping train from Alkmaar onwards.

Getting around

A bus service is available, though the centre of the city is reasonably compact and all the attractions are within comfortable walking distance of one another.

Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.