During this walking route of approximately 11 km, you will discover how Napoleon applied his military strategy. You will walk past various structures from the Napoleonic era, Dutch defensive works, and impressive German bunkers from the Second World War.
Den Helder has a unique location, surrounded by the sea on three sides. In 1811, Napoleon designated this strategic site the “Gibraltar of the North” and stationed a naval fleet here. To defend the naval port, he had a series of forts built: Fort Kijkduin, Fort Erfprins, Fort Dirksz Admiraal, and Fort Oostoever. These forts were later connected by a defensive dike and together form the Defence Line of Den Helder.
