Nieuwe Haven Naval Base
Nieuwe Haven Naval Base | |
---|---|
Den Helder, North Holland in the Netherlands | |
Coordinates | 52°57′21.6″N 04°47′22.3″E / 52.956000°N 4.789528°ECoordinates: 52°57′21.6″N 04°47′22.3″E / 52.956000°N 4.789528°E |
Type | Naval Base |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | Royal Netherlands Navy |
Open to the public | No |
Site history | |
Built | 1949 | - 1958
In use | 2 July 1954 | - present
Garrison information | |
Occupants | Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy |
Nieuwe Haven is a Royal Netherlands Navy base in Den Helder and the largest naval base in the Netherlands.
History[]
Already before World War I, Willemsoord had become too small for major warships. The wet dock was 325 m (1,066 ft 3 in) long and 135 m (442 ft 11 in) wide. The entrance was at the long side, and by then even light cruisers were about 120 m (393 ft 8 in) long. In the 1920s the light cruiser Java of 155 m (508 ft 6 in) could not visit the wet dock. After World War II, the Dutch government established a commission to find a site for a new naval base. It was given a choice between IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Vlissingen or Den Helder.[1] In 1947 it was decided Den Helder would become the Netherlands' main naval base.[2] A definitive plan for the new harbor was completed in 1948 and estimated its cost at 29 million florins.[1]
For the construction of the new harbor an area east of the Nieuwediep was selected. Construction started in 1949 when the mouth of the Nieuwediep was dammed off. Reclaimed land was used to built the base. The new western part was officially opened in 1954 by HNLMS Karel Doorman.[3] The rest of the base was completed in 1958.[1]
Since the move of the submarine service from Rotterdam to the Nieuwe Haven, all naval vessels have Den Helder as their home port.
References[]
- ^ a b c De Tijd Bouw nieuwe marinehaven vordert snel, 18 January 1952, accessed 20 September 2017 (via Delpher.nl)
- ^ A.P. van Vliet, Vijftig jaar 'Nieuwe haven' 1954-2004, .
- ^ Opening van de nieuwe marinehaven in Den Helder (2 juli 1954), NIMH.
- Royal Netherlands Navy
- Ports and harbours of the Netherlands
- Den Helder