Dutch 17th century sea admirals Michiel de Ruyter, Maarten Tromp and Piet Hein all chose Hellevoetsluis as their naval base. The town’s colourful past as the Netherlands’ most important naval dockyard and its location at the mouth of the Haringvliet definitely makes Hellevoetsluis a worthwhile destination. Enter the fortress through the historical town gate and soak up its rich past by walking the town trail. This includes such military heritage as old barracks, fortifications and cannons, as well as the dry dock and the lighthouse, which dates back to 1822.
The Quackgors nature reserve is just a stone’s throw away from the town centre. The look-out point is a good place for birdspotting. And keep your eye’s peeled for deer which regularly forage here. Close by is the Voornes Duin, a large expanse of dunes which are home to myriad of plant and animal species. This multifaceted nature reserve comprises expansive dunes, wetland hollows, marshland, stagnant pools and woodland.
Information
Plan a visit to Hellevoetsluis and Voorne-Putten at www.opvoorneputten.nl.
