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De demolition of 1600 dwellings, schools, churches and other large buildings in the old section of Den Helder was a huge undertaking. The city hired eight separate contractors to carry out the demolitions. During the demolition period that lasted from late March to early May, the labor force ranged between 400 and 1300 workers per day. The De Boer Company, an Oostzaan contractor, enjoyed special privileges in that it secured the biggest part of the job and was paid directly by the Wehrmacht. It was not uncommon for the German command to pay higher rates than the local municipalities could afford for such work. In the end, the bill was presented to the Dutch state anyway. In this way, the Germans could contract with large companies with which they were familiar for large parts of the job and in doing so reduce their risk of delays, unreliable subcontractors and sabotage.

However, the Wehrmachtsbezirksverwaltung (local Wehrmacht administration) neglected to start timely removal of rubble and reusable materials and the wreckers were forced to interrupt the work because of space restrictions. At times, the rubble in the streets and between the buildings was piled so high that the any walls still standing were all but buried. Such scenes occurred in spite of an elaborate system of carrots and sticks to press contractors and workers to complete the demolitions within set deadlines. Delays always made the Wehrmacht command nervous and they were dying to intervene.

Aerial photograph of the Den Helder demolition zone

Aerial photograph of the Den Helder demolition zone

In order to create an unobstructed field of fire, systematic demolition of the Ouwe Helder neighborhood and of a wide swath of housing along the coast to got underway in 1942.

Source: WUR Library, Special Collections

Photograph demolition zone

Source: Helderse Historische Vereniging

Dijkstraat 2

The bombardment of 31 October 1941 destroyed part of the construction along the Dijkstraat.

Source: Den Helder Historical Society.

Demolition zone – the Breestraat as seen from the Hartesteeg

400 to 1300 laborers a day were involved in demolition work. A system of fines and rewards was in place to press workers to complete the work within a set time frame. The German Wehrmacht, however, failed to remove reusable building materials and rubble in time, forcing the wreckers to interrupt the activities. The streets were filled with debris with no room to continue work. At times, the rubble in the streets was piled so high that it buried remnants of any walls left standing.

Source: Den Helder Historical Society.

Demolition zone – the Langestraat as seen from the Middenstraat

The Central Bureau for Building Materials [Centraal Bureau voor de Bouwmaterialen] supervised the collection (and confiscation) of all reusable materials from condemned buildings and the redistribution of these materials to the German military command. Leftover rubble – with all undamaged bricks removed – was generously returned to the civilian authorities. And when the city was in need of a small number of roof tiles to repair bomb-damaged residences, the Bureau charged a hefty price.

Source: Den Helder Historical Society.

Original street plan Ouwe Helder

The original Ouwe Helder neighborhood shows a fragmented layout. The whole district was subject to large-scale demolition, turning the area into a barren wasteland.

Source: Den Helder Historical Society

Reconstruction program Oud Den Helder

New plans for the Ouwe Helder district were conceived between 1945 and 1946 by urban planner Wieger Bruin. It was large in scope with straight, rectangular building lots. At its center would be an open space with a large church, intending to foster a village-like character. The housing shortage forced extra units onto the plan, which eventually also included high-rise construction. In the end, the central open space and the church were also sacrificed to allow for more residential construction. Consequently, the neighborhood lost its small-town feel and Wieger Bruin lost his inspiration.

Source: Den Helder Historical Society

Aerial view of the reconstruction

Ouwe Helder, 9 June 1964. In spite of numerous modifications to the reconstruction plan, the original layout of Wieger Bruin’s design is still clearly recognizable.

Source: Den Helder Historical Society

Aerial view of the reconstruction

Ouwe Helder, 12 June 1969.

Source: Den Helder Historical Society

Demolition Ouwe Helder