Damen Naval’s New Combat Support for the Royal Netherlands Navy

[By: Damen Naval]

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange christened the Combat Support Ship (CSS) Den Helder today. This marks a special and symbolic milestone for the new replenishment ship of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The festive ceremony at the shipyard of main contractor Damen Naval in Vlissingen was attended by 1,100 guests, including the State Secretary for Defence, Gijs Tuinman, Damen Shipyards CEO Arnout Damen, Deputy Commander of the Materiel and IT Command, Major General Harold Boekholt, and Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Vice Admiral René Tas.

During her first solo working visit, Princess Amalia spoke the traditional words, “I name you Den Helder and wish you and your crew safe travels,” before smashing a bottle of champagne against the hull of the CSS. As the ship’s christener, the Crown Princess will have a special connection with the vessel for the duration of its service life. After ceremonially cutting the final mooring line with a small ceremonial axe, the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy played the Wilhelmus, the Dutch national anthem. “This is a special day for Damen Naval. It is a great honour to welcome the Princess of Orange to our shipyard. In doing so, she ?ontinues a long-standing tradition of the Royal Family’s connection to ships for the Royal Netherlands Navy, designed and built by De Schelde, now Damen Naval,” said Damen Na…