nice hotel, did you visit the museum up the road? the old Vauban fortress that was upgraded by the Germans during the war, you can still climb up into the observation cupola , a hazardous clib to say the least as you go up the original metal ladders that the germans installed! in the UK the PC and H&S people would have it closed off, but the view is worth the climb. there is a really good chinese restaurant in it and down stairs a shop, sea life centre and history of the military side of it! shows where all the bombs were dropped on Den helder by both sides during the war, fine example of german precision bombing they aim for the harbour warehouses they put a line straight down , the allies on the other hand ar deploreable to say the least, they tried to hit some of the harbour installations and missed by a mile! hitting housing and the like with maybe 1 or two hitting the harbour area.