Fortress Hellevoetsluis

Hellevoetsluis is a maritime fortress, created in the 17th century with a rich history of almost 350 years. Originally, the port of Hellevoetsluis was built to maintain the Dutch war fleet, and served as a winter storage facility for this fleet.

Hellevoetsluis grew into the most important war port in Holland. The ships of the Admiralty of Rotterdam were cleaned, repaired and equipped here.

On the initiative of Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt and Lieutenant-Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, a regiment of naval infantrymen was assigned to the navy in 1665. The first commander was Willem Joseph van Ghent after whom the "Van Ghent barracks" in Rotterdam is named. Today, December 10, 1665 is seen as the founding date of the Marine Corps.

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