Den Helder, Netherlands

... the wall north-eastwards protecting the Zuider Zee from the storms of the North Sea.   We tried to stop in Den Helder but there was a cycle race going on and streets were closed so we continued on towards Den Oever where the Afsluitdijk stretched ...

... just not the perception of the Netherlands during the war that I have.   After a rain-accented walk back through Den Helder, we hopped on a train to Haarlam-though nearly bought tickets for Heerlen (way to the south near Maastricht) because of our ...