The Royal Netherlands Navy operated together with the Belgian and Estonian navies as part of the "Sandy Coast 25" exercise. The focus this year was on protecting Eemshaven on the Ems estuary, which is important for the transit of NATO military equipment and the harbour of Delfzijl on the Ems, as well as...
The hydrographic survey ship HNLMS "Snellius" (Snellius class, 81 metres in length) of the Royal Netherlands Navy has been assigned to the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG 1) for three months since mid-April and has replaced its sister ship HNLMS "Luymes" (A 803). As a rule, the tasks of the NATO naval unit include the defusing or...
Is the defence sector affected? At the end of April 2025, the Dutch public prosecutor's office publicised its investigation into Damen Shipyards and former executives. There is suspicion of corruption and discrepancies in procurement contracts. Investigators from the Dutch Financial Investigation and Prosecution Service (Fiscale Inlichtingen- en Opsporingsdienst, FIOD) allege that unclear payments were made between 2006 and 2017....
The Dutch government has signed a contract with Fugro N.V. and Damen Shipyards for the chartering of a modern patrol vessel with a civilian crew. The new Damen Fast Crew Supplier 5009 (FCS) "state vessel" is due to enter service in the second quarter of 2025 and will be responsible for providing situational awareness in the exclusive economic zone of the...
The Ministry of Defence is procuring thirteen new boats for the Royal Netherlands Navy to replace the current Fast Raiding Interception Special Forces Craft (FRISC). The contracts with the De Haas Maassluis B.V. shipyard in Rotterdam were signed in March, and the first so-called Future Fast Interceptors...
De Haas Shipyards in Rotterdam handed over the first two of four modernised Landing Craft Utilities (LCU) to the Royal Netherlands Navy in January. The third LCU is due to be delivered this year and the fourth in 2026. Reconstruction The landing craft have been adapted to new requirements and changed operating conditions.
The transfer of the future Royal Netherlands Navy task force supply ship "Den Helder" from Romania to the Netherlands was a daring endeavour in light of the war in Ukraine. The ship arrived in Vlissingen in the early morning of 13 December 2024 after leaving the Damen shipyard in Galati, Romania, on 16 November. Sea trials and...
Now it has been finalised. On 30 September, the CEO of the French Naval Group and the State Secretary of the Dutch Ministry of Defence signed a delivery agreement for four Barracuda submarines to the Royal Netherlands Navy in Den Helder. The procurement decision was made in March (marineforum online reported). Naval Group proposed with its...
The Dutch government has informed the House of Representatives and the public that HNLMS "Tromp" (De Zeven Provinciën class, 144 metres) will also be transiting the Red Sea on its way to the Indo-Pacific. The anti-aircraft frigate departed from Den Helder on 9 March and will be deployed for around 25 days at the end of March on the US-led maritime...
The first Hull Vane for the Royal Dutch Navy was delivered in Den Helder at the beginning of June 2022. This is a baffle plate to be fitted under the stern that makes ships faster and quieter, i.e. more efficient, while also improving their sea behaviour. This baffle will be fitted to the transom of the "HNLMS Groningen" at the beginning of 2023.
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