Position of Den Helder : Fort at the Harssens, around 1905.
The task of this fort, built between 1880-1884, was to defend the entrance to the Navy dockyard "Willemsoord" and the entrance to the waterways Nieuwediep and Noordhollands Kanaal. The fort is seen from the quay nearby the Havenplein. Visible in this picture is one of the two armored cupolas with 2 canons of 30,5 cm L / 25. Somewhere between 1940-1945 both armored cupolas and most of the armor were removed by the German occupier. Eventually the fort was sealed in 1957 and the dry moat was filled in, whereafter the new harbor office was built on top. Nowadays still a greater part of the fort is present in a good condition, unfortunately invisible as it is underground. In 2009 a small part of the dry moat was dug out.
The task of this fort, built between 1880-1884, was to defend the entrance to the Navy dockyard "Willemsoord" and the entrance to the waterways Nieuwediep and Noordhollands Kanaal. The fort is seen from the quay nearby the Havenplein. Visible in this picture is one of the two armored cupolas with 2 canons of 30,5 cm L / 25. Somewhere between 1940-1945 both armored cupolas and most of the armor were removed by the German occupier. Eventually the fort was sealed in 1957 and the dry moat was filled in, whereafter the new harbor office was built on top. Nowadays still a greater part of the fort is present in a good condition, unfortunately invisible as it is underground. In 2009 a small part of the dry moat was dug out.
Hover the cursor over the picture for about the same location in September 2019.