# Den Helder (electoral district)

Den Helder was an electoral district of the House of Representatives in the Netherlands from 1888 to 1918.

## Profile

The electoral district of Den Helder was created in 1888 out of part of the Alkmaar district, which was reduced from two seats to one. Den Helder's boundaries remained the same throughout the electoral district's existence. Fully located in the province of North Holland, it included the city of Den Helder and the rural municipalities of Anna Paulowna, Callantsoog, Petten and Zijpe to its south, as well of the Wadden Islands of Texel, Vlieland and Terschelling and the island of Wieringen. Roughly a quarter of the district's working age population was connected to the Willemsoord naval base.
The district's population increased slightly during its existence, from 43,483 in 1888 to 49,904 in 1909. A majority of around 60% the population was Reformed, with another 17.5% being Catholic and some 7% being Gereformeerd. The share of "Others" rose from 11.5% in 1888 to 16.4% in 1909.
The district of Den Helder was abolished upon the introduction of party-list proportional representation in 1918.

## Members

Den Helder was represented mostly by Liberal and Free-thinking Democratic members. The only exception is Andries Staalman, who was elected as an Anti-Revolutionary in 1894 and in all subsequent elections, but sat as an independent in parliament. He broke with the party in 1903 and founded the Christian Democratic Party, but subsequently failed to get re-elected. Carel Victor Gerritsen, elected in 1905, died before he was installed as member of parliament.
| Election | Member | Party |
| 1888 | Simon Taco Land | Lib |
| 1891 | Simon Taco Land | Lib |
| 1891 | Simon Taco Land | Lib |
| 1894 | Simon Taco Land | Lib |
| 1894 | Andries Staalman | AR |
| 1897 | Andries Staalman | AR |
| 1901 | Andries Staalman | AR |
| 1903 | Andries Staalman | CD |
| 1905 | Carel Victor Gerritsen | VD |
| 1905 | Zadok van den Bergh | VD |
| 1909 | Theo de Meester | Lib |
| 1913 | Theo de Meester | Lib |
| 1917 | Pieter Oud | VD |
| 1917 | Pieter Oud | VD |

## Election results
### Elections in the 1880s

1888 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Simon Taco Land | Lib | 1,072 | 38.73 | 1,779 | 63.92 |
| | H.W. van Marle | AR | 973 | 35.15 | 1,004 | 36.08 |
| | D.C. Loman | Lib | 705 | 25.47 | | |
| Others | Others | Others | 18 | 0.65 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 2,768 | 100.00 | 2,783 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 2,768 | 99.78 | 2,783 | 99.93 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 6 | 0.22 | 2 | 0.07 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,774 | 100.00 | 2,785 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,627 | 76.48 | 3,627 | 76.79 |
| | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Liberal gain |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut (1, 2) |||||||

### Elections in the 1890s

1891 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Simon Taco Land | Lib | 1,044 | 73.68 |
| | H.W. van Marle | AR | 281 | 19.83 |
| | D. de Clerq | V | 62 | 4.38 |
| Others | Others | Others | 30 | 2.12 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,417 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,417 | 98.88 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 16 | 1.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,433 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,725 | 38.47 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut |||||
1891 Den Helder by-election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Simon Taco Land | Lib | 1,099 | 95.23 |
| Others | Others | Others | 55 | 4.77 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,154 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,154 | 94.98 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 61 | 5.02 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,215 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,725 | 32.62 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut |||||
1894 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Simon Taco Land | Lib | 1,021 | 92.99 |
| | J. Timmer | Lib | 77 | 7.01 |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,098 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,098 | 96.74 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 37 | 3.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,135 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,700 | 30.68 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut |||||
1894 Den Helder by-election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Andries Staalman | AR | 558 | 28.64 | 1,254 | 55.56 |
| | J.J. Kraakman | | 281 | 14.43 | 1,003 | 44.44 |
| | H. van Calcar | | 256 | 13.14 | | |
| | J.C. Jansen | Lib | 243 | 12.47 | | |
| | J.J. Stooker | | 213 | 10.93 | | |
| | P.C.F. Frowein | | 158 | 8.11 | | |
| | J.G. van den Bosch | | 91 | 4.67 | | |
| | J. Korver | AR | 75 | 3.85 | | |
| | J.B. Verhey | Lib | 40 | 2.05 | | |
| Others | Others | Others | 33 | 1.69 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 1,948 | 100.00 | 2,257 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 1,948 | 99.69 | 2,257 | 97.16 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 6 | 0.31 | 66 | 2.84 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,954 | 100.00 | 2,323 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 3,711 | 52.65 | 3,711 | 62.60 |
| | Anti-Revolutionary gain | Anti-Revolutionary gain | Anti-Revolutionary gain | Anti-Revolutionary gain | Anti-Revolutionary gain | Anti-Revolutionary gain |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut (1, 2) |||||||
1897 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Andries Staalman | AR | 2,535 | 48.33 | 2,918 | 54.30 |
| | Cornelis Lely | Lib | 1,842 | 35.12 | 2,456 | 45.70 |
| | Herman Schaepman | Ka | 775 | 14.78 | | |
| | J. Korver | AR | 77 | 1.47 | | |
| | J.C. Jansen | Lib | 16 | 0.31 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,245 | 100.00 | 5,374 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 5,245 | 98.57 | 5,374 | 99.04 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 76 | 1.43 | 52 | 0.96 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,321 | 100.00 | 5,426 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 6,598 | 80.65 | 6,598 | 82.24 |
| | Anti-Revolutionary hold | Anti-Revolutionary hold | Anti-Revolutionary hold | Anti-Revolutionary hold | Anti-Revolutionary hold | Anti-Revolutionary hold |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut (1, 2) |||||||

### Elections in the 1900s

1901 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Andries Staalman | AR | 2,683 | 51.53 |
| | C.S. Jaring | Lib | 2,138 | 41.06 |
| | Frederik Hugenholtz | SDAP | 386 | 7.41 |
| Total | Total | Total | 5,207 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 5,207 | 99.16 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 44 | 0.84 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,251 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 6,816 | 77.04 |
| | Anti-Revolutionary hold | Anti-Revolutionary hold | Anti-Revolutionary hold | Anti-Revolutionary hold |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut |||||
1905 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Carel Victor Gerritsen | VD | 3,111 | 51.03 |
| | Andries Staalman | CD | 2,276 | 37.34 |
| | L. Adriaanse | AR | 491 | 8.05 |
| | A.H. Gerhard | SDAP | 218 | 3.58 |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,096 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 6,096 | 98.72 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 79 | 1.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,175 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 7,641 | 80.81 |
| | Free-thinking Democratic gain | Free-thinking Democratic gain | Free-thinking Democratic gain | Free-thinking Democratic gain |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut |||||
1905 Den Helder by-election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Zadok van den Bergh | VD | 3,420 | 53.79 |
| | Andries Staalman | CD | 2,938 | 46.21 |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,358 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 6,358 | 99.07 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 60 | 0.93 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,418 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 7,641 | 83.99 |
| | Free-thinking Democratic hold | Free-thinking Democratic hold | Free-thinking Democratic hold | Free-thinking Democratic hold |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut |||||
1909 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Theo de Meester | Lib | 3,128 | 45.77 | 3,891 | 54.25 |
| | Andries Staalman | CD | 2,950 | 43.17 | 3,282 | 45.75 |
| | C. Thomassen | SDAP | 659 | 9.64 | | |
| | F. Fokkens | CHU | 97 | 1.42 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,834 | 100.00 | 7,173 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 6,834 | 99.17 | 7,173 | 99.35 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 57 | 0.83 | 47 | 0.65 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,891 | 100.00 | 7,220 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 8,402 | 82.02 | 8,402 | 85.93 |
| | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Liberal gain | Liberal gain |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut (1, 2) |||||||

### Elections in the 1910s

1913 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Theo de Meester | Lib | 2,778 | 37.90 | 3,486 | 58.15 |
| | C. Thomassen | SDAP | 2,171 | 29.62 | 2,509 | 41.85 |
| | Andries Staalman | CD | 1,220 | 16.64 | | |
| | C.J.van der Hegge Spies | AR | 1,161 | 15.84 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 7,330 | 100.00 | 5,995 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 7,330 | 99.07 | 5,995 | 98.52 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 69 | 0.93 | 90 | 1.48 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,399 | 100.00 | 6,085 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 9,031 | 81.93 | 9,031 | 67.38 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Liberal hold |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut (1, 2) |||||||
1917 Den Helder by-election :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Pieter Oud | VD | 2,264 | 35.46 | 3,341 | 54.87 |
| | C. Thomassen | SDAP | 2,128 | 33.33 | 2,748 | 45.13 |
| | Andries Staalman | CD | 1,993 | 31.21 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,385 | 100.00 | 6,089 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 6,385 | 98.66 | 6,089 | 97.78 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 87 | 1.34 | 138 | 2.22 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,472 | 100.00 | 6,227 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 9,953 | 65.03 | 9,953 | 62.56 |
| | Free-thinking Democratic gain | Free-thinking Democratic gain | Free-thinking Democratic gain | Free-thinking Democratic gain | Free-thinking Democratic gain | Free-thinking Democratic gain |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut (1, 2) |||||||
1917 general election: Den Helder :
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Pieter Oud | VD | 3,222 | 51.88 |
| | Andries Staalman | CD | 2,989 | 48.12 |
| Total | Total | Total | 6,211 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 6,211 | 98.82 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 74 | 1.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,285 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 9,953 | 63.15 |
| | Free-thinking Democratic hold | Free-thinking Democratic hold | Free-thinking Democratic hold | Free-thinking Democratic hold |
| Source: Kiesraad, Huygens Instituut |||||