Fort Kijkduin, Military fortress and public aquarium in Huisduinen, Netherlands.
Fort Kijkduin is a stone fortress that combines military history with marine life in one location. Historic rooms sit alongside aquarium displays showing North Sea creatures and habitats.
The fortress was built during the Napoleonic Wars to defend the coast against attack. After serving its purpose for many years, it was restored in 1996 and opened to the public.
The location displays artifacts and military equipment that show how Dutch people protected their coast over time. Items here reveal how defense methods changed across different periods.
The fortress is typically open on most days and visitors can enter without special planning. Most areas are on one level with level access, making it fairly easy to walk through all sections.
The aquarium inside the old fortress walls creates an unusual contrast between war history and peaceful marine viewing. Visitors experience two separate worlds in a building that was never designed for this combination.
Location: Den Helder
Address: Admiraal Verhuellplein
GPS coordinates: 52.95051,4.72244
Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:48
Lange Jaap
593 m
Marinekazerne Erfprins
1.4 km
Water tower in Den Helder
2.6 km
Fort Dirks Admiraal
2.4 km
Monument voor het Reddingswezen
2.1 km
Nationaal Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers
3.2 km
Mariëndal
2.4 km
Atlantikwall Centrum
348 m
Raccordement Den Helder Haven
3.2 km
Petrus en Pauluskerk
2.8 km
OLV Onbevlekt Ontvangen
3.2 km
Visitors center De Helderse Vallei
2 km
Kustwachttoren van Huisduinen
177 m
De Streepjesberg
845 m
Den Helder School 7 Library
3.1 km
Gerechtsgebouw
2.5 km
Bethel church
2.7 km
Den Vaderlant getrouwe
2.8 km
Oude stadhuis
2.5 km
Joods monument
949 m
Vliegersmonument
3 km
Poortgebouw
349 m
Werkplaats
349 m
Logement Duitse Officieren
349 m
Verbindingswal
1.8 km
Reddingboot ‘Javazee’
3.2 km
Monument voor Bombardementsslachtoffers
1.4 km
Marinemonument
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