| Nieuwe Haven Naval Base | |
| Location: | Den Helder, North Holland |
| Country: | the Netherlands |
| Coordinates: | 52.956°N 4.7895°W |
| Type: | Naval Base |
| Ownership: | Ministry of Defence |
| Open To Public: | No |
| Built: | - |
| Used: | - present |
| 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.
Already before World War I, Willemsoord had become too small for major warships. The wet dock was 325m (1,066feet) long and 135m (443feet) wide. The entrance was at the long side, and by then even light cruisers were about 120m (390feet) long. In the 1920s the light cruiser Java of 155m (509feet) 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 build the base. The new western part was officially opened in 1954 by .[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.
In April 2023 expansion plans were revealed for the eastern part of the base. This work is needed for two reasons:
The expansion is estimated to cost between €100 million and €250 million, and should be finished by 2029.[4] It will include new mooring facilities and create more space on the quays which can be used for storing containers and vehicles.[5] [6]