Princess Amalia christens Combat Support Ship Den Helder for Royal Netherlands Navy

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 continues 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 Naval Managing Director Roland Briene.

He also highlighted the successful collaboration between the Netherlands Ministry of Defence and the Dutch naval shipbuilding industry, with Damen Naval as the main contractor and national Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). “The christening of the CSS marks the beginning of a large-scale fleet replacement and reinforcement programme for our Royal Netherlands Navy.

It underscores our longstanding and strategic partnership with the Ministry of Defence, which is now focused on renewal and acceleration. Here in Vlissingen, the heart of Dutch naval shipbuilding, we are dedicating resources and capacity to this urgent fleet modernisation. To achieve this, we work closely with a wide range of Dutch companies, research institutes, and, of course, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. We have been doing this for 150 years—and we will continue to do so.”