Herinneringsroute Atlantikwall Den Haag
The wartime fishing industry
In the course of 1940/41, the Germans requisitioned all the best boats in the Scheveningen fishing fleet. Only a small number of vessels were allowed to continue fishing and then only under German supervision. They had to stay close in-shore and return to harbour before evening.
The aim was to prevent boats and their crews escaping to England. From September 1944, the fleet was confined to port and fishing halted completely.
Only the oldest boats remained active in the in-shore fishing fleet. They still used sail power or outdated auxiliary engines and were therefore easy targets. The whole fleet faced the danger of mines and English fighter planes. But, because of the reduction in fishing, catches were large.