Saturday morning started the only way any good Saturday should—coffee first, always. (Coffee addict here, remember?) Once the caffeine hit just right, we packed a few bags and headed off on a little adventure to the north of the Netherlands.

Our destination? Julianadorp aan Zee, a charming village just 4 km south of Den Helder, the northernmost city in the Netherlands. We booked a cozy bungalow in Strandslag, nestled right at the foot of the sand dunes lining the North Sea.

And what a place! Ideal for kids (which matters when traveling with Miss J., our sassy 5-year-old), Strandslag has a huge playground, mini-golf, a lovely lake with a floating bridge, and—swoon alert—a fireplace in nearly every bungalow. Couple goals, anyone? 😉

The sky was the kind of blue that would make any Dutch painter proud, clouds drifting like whipped cream. No wonder so many of them felt inspired to paint the skies here!

Exploring Den Helder: A Hidden Gem in the North

Den Helder itself is a charming, picture-perfect town of about 41,000 residents. Historically known as Helledore (Hell’s Door), the waters between Den Helder and Texel were once so treacherous that many ships met their end here. Today, it’s home to the Netherlands’ main naval base, a legacy dating back to the 18th century.

Even Napoleon Bonaparte saw its strategic importance—he visited in 1811 and commissioned the construction of Fort Kijkduin and the Willemsoord dockyard.

From Den Helder, it’s easy to hop on a ferry to Texel, the largest of the Wadden Islands—perfect for beach walks, cycling, skydiving (not us, not yet!), or visiting Ecomare, where you can meet rescued seals.

Den Helder and its surroundings offer many places and activities to keep your trip busy: Kijkduin Fort, Navy Museum, Lange Jaap Lighthouse in Huisduinen, Sprokjeswonderland, a children’s theme park, Bakery Museum, and Holebolebom (swimming pool and playground).

Also, a must-do is a visit to the various cafes and bars on the Koningstraat in Den Helder,  and if you are in the Willemsoord area, don’t miss the Kade 60 restaurant.

Fort Kijkduin & the Tallest Cast-Iron Lighthouse in Europe

Our first stop: Fort Kijkduin, located in the historic part of town, Huisduinen. Built in 1811, at the request of Napoleon Bonaparte, the fort includes a museum and an impressive North Sea aquarium. There’s even a whale skeleton on display. My favorite exhibit? A 1940 newspaper article referencing Romania being given an ultimatum by the Soviet Union—a surreal, personal connection in an unexpected place. The aquarium has been open since 1996 and has many different types of fish from the North Sea.

Entry: €8 for adults, €6 for kids under 12. Free for children under 3.
⏰ Open daily from 10:00 (11:00 in winter) to 17:00.

For more details, you can check here.

To the north of Kijduin, just nearby, stands the Lange Jaap lighthouse, an iron giant at 63.45 meters tall. Once the tallest in the Netherlands (now second place after Maasvlakte), it’s visible from up to 54 kilometers away. Fun fact: It weighs over 500,000 kg of cast iron. Built to last, clearly!  Construction of the tower began in 1877, and the light was first turned on on April 1, 1878.  Long before the Lange Jaap, there was a tower with light generated by wood and coal.

Fairy Tales & Sass at Sprookjeswonderland

Next, we drove to Sprookjeswonderland in Enkhuizen—about an hour from Den Helder. This enchanting fairy tale park was an absolute hit with Miss J. (and, let’s be honest, with me too). From Pinocchio to Snow White and the mischievous Goat and her kids, it was like stepping into a storybook.

Rain showers came and went, the sun peeked through, and Miss J. made the observation of the day: “Sleeping Beauty probably stinks. She’s been asleep for days and missed her showers!”

Tickets: €9.95 for adults and children over 2.
Open from April to November.

More details can be found on the park’s website here.

Beach Walks, Shells & Hearts in the Sand

Day three was all about slow living. We strolled along the beach, collecting shells, watching horses gallop by, and drawing hearts in the sand. The kind of day that fills your lungs with sea air and your heart with quiet joy.

Chocolate Dreams & Cookie Art at the Bakery Museum

Midweek brought us to Medemblik (a 40-minute drive from Den Helder) and the cozy Bakerijmuseum “De Oude Bakerij”. This place smells like heaven. Cookies, chocolate, old-school baking tools—it’s both a museum and a hands-on sweet escape. The museum regularly organizes various workshops where you can learn how to make various kinds of chocolate or cookies.

Miss J. decorated cookies with wild enthusiasm and then couldn’t bring herself to eat them. (Art first. Appetite later.)

€6.50 for adults, €4.50 for kids 3–12.
Check their website for workshop dates here.

Giggles at Hollebolleboom

The following day was all about fun at Hollebolleboom in Tuitjenhorn, just 29 km from Den Helder. This indoor aqua park is full of laughter, slides, and warm pools. Bonus: entry is fingerprint-based, so you can come and go as much as you like in a day. Smart! You can find information about Hollebolleboom here.

Final Stop: Wildlife at Landgoed Hoenderdaell

Our last adventure was at Landgoed Hoenderdaell, a nature and wildlife park in Anna Paulowna, 18 km away. Picture deer roaming freely, parrots squawking, lions sunbathing, and flowers blooming across 64 hectares of natural beauty. You can discover fox routes and bird nests, and on the water banks, you can see different species of rodents. Perfect for nature lovers, it’s a place where peace and wild coexist. On the way to the park, you can see the Hoenderdaell property, located between the Ewijcksvaart and Veer Oude waterways. This area was once part of the Wadden Sea, but has become a beautiful nature reserve since 1992.  The park has animals and birds from all continents. You can see Ara parrots, Capuchin and Tamarind monkeys, flamingo birds, Honduran turkeys, pelicans, cougars, red ibis birds, Bengal tigers, deer, lions, and more.

Entry: €10 for adults and children over 4.

One Week. So Many Memories.

That’s how we spent a week in and around Den Helder—between history, fairy tales, seaside calm, and sugar-fueled smiles. There’s so much more to explore, but with a 5-year-old in tow, we still focus on magic, play, and wonder.

If you’re planning a trip to the Netherlands and want something beyond the classic Amsterdam itinerary, this region is a hidden gem.

And yes, we’ll be back. With extra cookie-decorating supplies.