Friday 2 November 2018

Fort Kijkduin Museum, Den Helder


One place I wanted to visit on our trip to North Holland this year was the little museum at Fort Kijkduin just west of Den Helder, to look at their diorama of the British landings immediately south of the fort at Calantsoog. Followers will be aware of my interest in this ill-conceived and ill-fated campaign in 1799. It must be lovely in the summer but in late October is was blowing a gale, raining and bloody freezing, much like it was for much of the campaign.










Most of the museum focussed on the area during the Second World War but there were some interesting exhibits coving the Revolutionary/Napoleonic War as well as during WW1 when the Dutch army was mobilised just in case they were invaded. Overall a pleasant hour or so's diversion. The diorama has got me thinking again about wargaming the landings....!

7 comments:

  1. I'll have to visit on my next trip over to DH!
    If you get the chance visit the Dutch Army Museum In Deft.

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  2. That looks very interesting will put it on the list 🙂

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  3. Wow, you must have been in hog heaven Colin! Fantastic looking diorama. I assume that you'll have your table matching those dunes shortly on returning to the UK?

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  4. Interesting! Enjoy Crisis! Buy new toys!,

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  5. Great looking diorama - the flat boats with the British troops disembarking are particularly inspiring, given our group just gamed the British landing in Egypt in 1801

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