Yacht marina
Den Helder offers a wide range of modern mooring facilities for sailing and motor yachts. The city is also home to a number of
yachting clubs, and the port serves regularly as the starting point for sailing trips and yacht racing.
In 2008, in the Natte Dok at the former Willemsoord Naval Dockyard, a modern leisure marina
was built for seagoing motor and sailing yachts. The marina offers 100 moorings with an option
for future expansion to 250 moorings. The marina, located close to the centre of Den Helder,
features all modern conveniences, and via the Zeedoksluis lock has direct access to the open sea.
From 2009 onwards, the marina will also have access to Dutch inland waterways via the dock canal
(Boerenverdriet), inland harbour and the North Holland canal. The marina has a depth of 7.50
metres. Vessels with a draught of up to 7.42 metres can pass through the Zeedoksluis lock. The
dock canal is 3.50 metres deep.
In the port, a number of companies are involved in the design, construction and repair of yachts, whilst several renowned Dutch yacht builders use the port for finishing their luxury vessels, and for holding sea trials. A remarkable number of sailing, nautical monuments use Den Helder as their permanent mooring site, whilst large SAIL events are often organised in Den Helder, attended by the world's largest sailing ships.