Den Helder welcomed Ingrid Thijssen, Chair of VNO-NCW, for a working visit to its Maritime Cluster, highlighting how safety, energy, and innovation reinforce each other in the region.

The visit started at Den Helder Airport and Vliegkamp De Kooy, where civil and military aviation’s role in offshore energy and maritime safety was showcased. A tour of the seaport demonstrated Den Helder’s dual role as the Royal Netherlands Navy’s home base and an operational hub for offshore logistics and North Sea oversight.

The visit concluded at the METIP Innovation Centre, where defense, industry, and knowledge institutions collaborate on innovations like drones, virtual training, and 3D printing. Thijssen noted: “Den Helder shows how resilience, the energy transition, and economic development can strengthen national security and drive growth.”

The region’s unique combination of airport, seaport, and civil-military collaboration creates opportunities for companies and innovation, making Den Helder a strategic maritime and energy hub.