Fort Kijkduin

For €11, we got a ticket to the museum, aquarium and audio guide (English / Dutch).

We spent perhaps 1.5 hours in the museum walking around and listening to all of the audio recordings, then about 45min in the aquarium.

The fort is very interesting and has a lot to offer to those interested to know its history. And why Den Helder was an important part of the Netherlands’ history.

I really enjoyed my visit to the fort and the aquarium. The location is gorgeous and parking is free. I thought the displays in the fort were interesing, but I really loved the aquarium and all the information about the local fauna. Really interesting to see local fish and other sea life up close and personal, especially the rays. It was a great day out and I will definitely visit again.

We had a lovely afternoon visiting the fort. The war exposition and the aquarium is nicely curated. It is an interesting visit for both adults and kids.

Fort Kijkduin is at a strategically important location and has quite some history. The museum offers lots of opportunities to get an impression of the war history around that place. You can walk in original bunkers, sit on anti air cannons, watch Napoleons battles or read about German occupation times.
The aquarium which is also part of the museum shows local fish and you can even feed sharks there.
There is a quiz available to keep the kids busy which worked very well.
Highly recommended.

Very educational & engaging experience, with wonderful staff!

We arrived on a Thursday at 2.30pm, not sure what to expect. We were received by Julia at the front desk, she recommended we take the audio devices (in English), it was free with the admission ticket. She clearly explained the route, how to reach the additional area featuring the whale skeleton, she was very patient, helpful and overall professional during our visit.

If you enjoy learning the history of such a monument, you can get that here with field models displays, films and actual artifacts!

The Fort is laid out in such a matter that you can see the museum inside, you can also go outside to visit a few other areas (bunkers you can enter) and with a bonus of an aquarium in the fort, featuring a walking tunnel through a fish tank.

We felt the ticket price was very affordable for what was offered at this museum!

Fort Kijkduin is a great museum which shows its importance of defence in the past. It tells you Dutch history. This is one great museum which one should never miss. Though it is in the west of Den Helder, it will take 30 min. to walk from train station Den Helder. I advise you to walk here because you can enjoy watching horses, sheep and lighthouse on the way. You can also come by bus 851 which will leave train station once per hour. The museum has weapons, military stuff, military model tanks and planes, documentary film, aquarium, etc to show you. The sole toilet is right in front of the cashier. After you buy the entry ticket, turn your head back and you will see it. All the other toilets in the museum are locked.

I wasn't expecting much from the pictures that I could find online, but it turns out to be a pretty nice museum! There are lots of secret passageways, isolated display rooms scattered inside and out, and even outdoor trails that lead to hidden bunkers. If you see a tunnel, passage, or path, take it! It might lead you to another unexpected discovery. The aquarium was also much better than I expected as well, no hands on touch experiences, but some really nice tanks and regional aquatic life. Have fun!

Both museum and aquarium are located in the fort. The parking place before the fort is free. The aquarium is fun with open tanks and option to feed fish. The collection of the fish and other creatures is amazing. The history museum cowers the fort past during Napoleonic wars and the WWII. The collection of the handguns is interesting. The single ticket is for both museum and aquarium. You can also climb on the top of the fort free . There is fantastic view on sea and dunes. The cafe inside the fort has indoor and outdoor terraces. It offers pastries and coffee. More substantial food is available in two restaurants across the parking lot. There is an elevator for people with limited abilities. Reserve about 1,5 hours for the visit. Also, walking on the beach and dunes is great if weather permits.

Nice museum especially for children. Exhibition about the history of the forticiations and another one with several aquariums. Nice viewpoint just outside.

Easily a half day visit. Tunnels to explorer, battlements to climb.
Soaked in history through the centuries.
In contrast there is an aquarium.

Small village near Den Helder ... Visited in wintertime in bad weather but even so it was interesting ... Small fort, wild shore, tranquil surroundings ... Wow lighthouses ...IT Is worth the extra trip ...

Nice place to visit very calm and peaceful

This is a combinatie of an aquarium, a museum and old bunkers. The fort is amazing with a very long history involving many changes.

Very interesting without being tedious, make sure you take a couple of hours for your visit. Lots to see, learn and enjoy.

We visited as a group of four adults.
The fort is a fascinating building with a rich past. Information about the fort's history was well displayed with interesting tableaux to add to the experience.
An interesting addition was the aquarium with it's new display of a skeleton of a sperm whale.

Lots to do here, from 1600's through Napoleon to ww2. Fab.

Interesting spot, super view's. But missed to visit the museum.

Fun experience with multiple interesting historical era's.

So this museum combines two period very well. The Napoleonic Era and the World War 2 period. Two of the major conflicts on the European continent. In which both this fortress was an important strategical position.

First build by the the Dutch, then renovated and upscale by the French then modernized by the Germans.

Just the sheer thought of all the different soldiers of those periods being station there has something to it.

On top of this they have an amazing display of fish and underwater creatures. All in all learned a lot and had a good time with the family.

Note worthy, it is accessible for people with less accessibility and enough places to sit down. Just don't head into the tunnels :)

Staff was really friendly, I would love to come again!

Beautiful place with loads of authentic WW2 items in the museum. The aquarium is also great! Truly a once in a lifetime thing.

A nice place to go if your in the area. There a some history to bee seen here, and you can walk around in the fort and it's underground tunnels.

They have also built an aquarium in the fort which was a lot of fun to see as well.