It is a part of the municipality of Hollands Kroon, and lies about 18 kilometres (11 mi) east of Den Helder.

The village was first mentioned in 1432 as "ten Oisterlande op 't Oever", and means "(on the sea) shore", because it was an access point to the former Zuiderzee.

[3] Den Oever was a fishing village which developed in the Late Middle Ages on the north-eastern edge of the former Wieringen island.

[4] The village is located on the former island Wieringen at the west side of the Afsluitdijk: therefore the Stevin lock (named after mathematician and engineer Simon Stevin) and three series of five sluices for discharging the IJsselmeer into the Wadden Sea were constructed in Den Oever.

The eight-sided wooden grain smock mill "De Hoop" ("The Hope") is situated in the middle of the village with a wingspan of 17 metres (56 ft).