The Royal Netherlands Navy has officially commissioned its new combat support ship, HNLMS Den Helder

The Royal Netherlands Navy has officially commissioned its new Combat Support Ship (CSS), HNLMS Den Helder (A834), during a ceremony held in the port city of Den Helder. At the event, the ship received the designation “Zijner Majesteits” (Zr.Ms.), marking it as a warship of the Netherlands.

During the ceremony, the Navy hoisted the traditional oorlogswimpel, a pennant symbolizing commitment, honor, and the continuity of Dutch maritime traditions. With this act, HNLMS Den Helder is officially cleared to participate in national defense missions and joint operations with allied forces.

The ship measures 179 meters in length, accommodates 76 crew members, and can host up to 80 additional personnel. Its cargo capacity includes 20 containers, as well as fuel, ammunition, provisions, and spare parts for replenishing naval units at sea. It is also equipped with a Role 2 hospital capable of performing surgeries and providing advanced medical care during missions.

HNLMS Den Helder is designed to sustain naval operations without requiring port resupply. According to Damen Shipyards, responsible for its construction, the ship “is the first and only of its class, with its primary mission being the at-sea replenishment of fuel, water, supplies, ammunition, and spare parts.”

The Den Helder’s design is based on HNLMS Karel Doorman (A833), a joint logistics support ship commissioned in 2015. Both vessels share technical and engineering features, but the new ship is specifically optimized for high-seas logistical support.

Construction of Den Helder began in 2020, it was launched in 2022, and conducted its first sea trials in November 2024, departing from Damen Shipyards in Galaţi, Romania. After sailing through the Danube, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean, it arrived in the Netherlands to be equipped with sensors and weapons systems at Damen facilities in Vlissingen and Den Helder.

The ship replaces the former replenishment oilers HNLMS Zuiderkruis (retired in 2012) and HNLMS Amsterdam (sold to the Peruvian Navy in 2014). The decommissioning of these vessels had left the Royal Netherlands Navy without a specialized ship for this role, temporarily requiring the use of Karel Doorman.

HNLMS Den Helder is fitted with two 40-ton cranes, can carry up to 24 sea containers, operate with two NH90 NFH helicopters, and is capable of storing 7,600 m³ of diesel fuel, 1,000 m³ of aviation fuel, and 434 tons of miscellaneous cargo.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the ship will soon deploy to the Caribbean for warm-weather trials and is expected to be fully operational in 2026. The commissioning of Den Helder marks the first phase of a broader fleet renewal plan, which will include the addition of new frigates, minehunters, and submarines in the coming years.

*Images sourced from the Dutch Ministry of Defense – cover image for illustrative purposes

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