Inside picturesque UK town that has doubled for Netherlands in movies – including amazing James Bond chopper scene
A PICTURESQUE UK town has doubled for the Netherlands in movies – including an amazing James Bond chopper scene.
With its Dutch-style houses, King’s Lynn in Norfolk could pass for a British Amsterdam.
It’s no coincidence that the town’s career as a film location began with classic war films The Silver Fleet and One of Our Aircraft is Missing, both set in Holland.
Sleepy King’s Lynn kept up its reputation as a filming location for war movies, with the Nazi searchlights scanning the sky for RAF bombers in The Dam Busters stationed at nearby Langham airfield.
More recently, a thrilling helicopter sequence in the James Bond movie Die Another Day was filmed just down the road at RAF Marham.
The shoot for the scene, where a helicopter carrying NSA agents blows up in front of a helpless Bond, was plagued by the rainy Norfolk weather.
Cameras returned to King’s Lynn for Armando Iannucci’s 2019 adaptation of David Copperfield, with Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton and Peter Capaldi all coming to town.
It followed an earlier adaptation of the Dickens novel starring a very young Daniel Radcliffe – which was also filmed in King’s Lynn.
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Among the other attractions in King’s Lynn is the Watatunga Wildlife Reserve, where endangered deer, antelope and birds roam freely.
History lovers can visit Castle Acre Priory, a Cluniac monastery founded not long after the Norman Conquest, or Castle Rising, which was home to Edward II’s widow and alleged murderer Queen Isabella.
In the town itself, you can admire old merchant buildings like the Custom House and the Hanseatic Warehouse – the city’s medieval sea trade with the Netherlands explaining its Dutch look.
But perhaps the top local landmark is King’s Lynn Minster, where the local congregation has prayed since 1101.
Many visitors love King’s Lynn – albeit in small doses.
Fuchsia said: “Dear old Lynn, I love it – I used to go there for shopping.
“But I wouldn’t stay there for a weekend.”
Morgana said: “I have to admit I’m not a King’s Lynn fan. It has some bits, but some not so nice.”
Florence said: “In my opinion King’s Lynn is OK for a half-day visit, but with just a weekend visit there are nicer places to go.”
King’s Lynn residents were furious after tourist guides in the sleepy market town were given stab vests to wear – putting off visitors.
Nearby on the Norfolk Broads, neighbours have slammed a new “Bond villain” house which they say has ruined the area.
It comes as a new mini-Hollywood with “stacked studios” is set to open in a major UK city – but residents say they don’t want it even if it brings Ryan Reynolds to the area.