Today Roel Salden, representing the Economic domain, together with the other Helderse domains: Culture, Education, Government, Sport, Peace & Security, Housing, and Care signed an agreement for the urban development of Den Helder as a Blue Port. The goal is to further develop the city and strengthen its national and international positioning.

The main reason for joining forces is to respond to both the challenges (such as an aging population and labor shortages) and opportunities (for example, maritime security and the energy transition) facing the city. Blue Port provides a framework for collaboration and urban development, enabling Den Helder to grow and flourish.

In Den Helder, it is essential to invest in quality education, housing, livability, attractiveness, social resilience, public health, and a strong social foundation. These developments are key to making Den Helder future-proof and improving the living environment for its residents. Blue Port Den Helder offers a broadly supported framework to achieve these goals.

Blue Port is a globally applied approach to port-area development, where economic growth goes hand in hand with social responsibility and respect for unique coastal and natural values. It fits Den Helder’s natural position as a port city, surrounded on three sides by water, and aligns with ongoing initiatives such as METIP, BluePortCentre Den Helder, Blue Schools, the maritime campus development, and student housing in Prinses Margriet.