Dutch Navy Commissions New Combat Support Ship HNLMS Den Helder

When René Tas, Vice Admiral of the Royal Netherlands Navy, stepped onto the deck of the freshly‑commissioned HNLMS Den Helder, he wasn’t just cutting a ribbon – he was signaling a turning point for Dutch maritime power.

The 179.3‑metre support vessel, built by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding in Galaţi, Romania, arrived in its home waters after a four‑month odyssey that threaded the Danube, Black Sea and Mediterranean. Christened in February 2025, the ship now joins the fleet as the sole member of the Den Helder‑class, ready to keep Dutch and NATO warships supplied at sea for weeks on end.

Why the Netherlands Needed a New Replenishment Ship

Back in December 2019, Dutch parliament approved a “D‑letter” procurement to replace the aging logistical backbone that had been stretched thin for years. The previous support ships were nearing the end of their service lives, leaving the navy vulnerable during prolonged deployments. With the security environment in the North Sea and Baltic becoming increasingly contested, the ability to refuel and re‑arm without returning to port is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity.

The decision set off a cascade of contracts. RH Marine and Heinen & Hopman secured early design work in March 2020, while Wärtsilä won the diesel‑generator deal a few months later. This network of Dutch suppliers kept the bulk of engineering on home soil, even though the hull was assembled abroad.

From Steel Cut to Sea Trials

The first steel was sliced on 2 December 2020 – a moment that still brings a smile to the shipyard foremen who watched the keel‑laying ceremony in May 2021. Over the next two years, the massive blocks travelled down the Danube to the Black Sea, where the vessel underwent block‑assembly checks before being launched into the Mediterranean for fitting of the combat‑management system.

Sea trials kicked off on 17 November 2024. The ship’s four Wärtsilä 31 diesel generators, paired with two General Electric Vernova electric motors, pushed the hull to a top speed of 20 knots – just enough to keep pace with modern frigates. Sensors from Thales – the NS100 air‑and‑surface radar and the Pharos navigation radar – proved reliable in the choppy Adriatic, clearing the way for the final outfitting stage back in the Netherlands.

Capabilities That Matter on the High Sea

At a displacement of roughly 22,300 tons, HNLMS Den Helder can carry 75 crew members and another 75 mission‑specific personnel – a total of 150 people ready to operate everything from medical facilities to vehicle bays. The cargo hold is sized for twenty ISO containers, plus a range of expeditionary vehicles, making the ship a floating logistics hub.

Helicopter operations are a core feature. The flight deck comfortably accommodates two NHIndustries NH90 NFH medium‑utility maritime helicopters, allowing over‑the‑horizon (OtH) resupply missions or rapid‑response humanitarian flights. A pair of LCVP landing‑craft give the vessel a modest amphibious punch, useful for island‑to‑shore transfers or disaster‑relief deliveries.

Defensively, the support ship is modest but sufficient. A single 76‑mm OTO‑Melara gun watches the bow, complemented by a RIM‑116 Rolling Airframe Missile launcher with 21 missiles ready to snuff out incoming threats. Four 12.7‑mm Lionfish machine guns round out the close‑in defenses. In high‑threat environments, the ship would operate under the protective umbrella of frigates – a doctrinal approach that NATO navies have practiced for decades.

Strategic Role Within NATO and Dutch Ops

“Replenishment ships are indispensable for maritime operations, enabling other vessels to remain at sea for extended periods,” Vice Admiral René Tas said at the commissioning ceremony. The statement underscores the ship’s relevance beyond national borders.

When paired with the joint support ship HNLMS Karel Doorman, the Dutch fleet regains a logistical tail that was missing after the retirement of earlier supply vessels. NATO’s maritime groups, especially those patrolling the Baltic and Mediterranean, have long complained about a shortage of dedicated replenishment assets. Den Helder’s ability to deliver fuel, fresh water, ammunition and humanitarian cargo on the move plugs that gap.

Beyond war‑fighting, the vessel’s design anticipates missions ranging from anti‑drug trafficking patrols off West Africa to refugee‑flow coordination in the Aegean. The capacity to carry medical supplies and provide onboard aid brings a new dimension to Dutch foreign‑policy tools – think of it as a floating embassy that can render assistance wherever a crisis erupts.

What Comes Next? Timeline and Future Outlook

Formal commissioning took place in early 2025, but the ship’s operational debut is slated for the second quarter of 2025 once crew training concludes. Dutch officials expect the vessel to join NATO’s Standing Maritime Group 1 by late 2025, rotating through the Atlantic and North Sea theatres.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence is eyeing a potential second support ship, though budgetary constraints have put the idea on hold. If funding materialises, the second hull would likely be a stretched version, offering even more cargo space and an additional 76‑mm gun.

What’s certain is that HNLMS Den Helder will be a workhorse for the next decade, shaping how the Netherlands contributes to collective security and how it projects soft power through humanitarian missions.

Key Facts

• Length: 179.3 m; Beam: 26.4 m; Displacement: ~22,300 t
• Propulsion: 4 × Wärtsilä 31 diesel generators + 2 × GE Vernova electric motors
• Speed: 20 knots max, 18 knots service
• Crew: 75 permanent, 75 mission‑specific
• Armament: 76 mm OTO‑Melara gun, RIM‑116 RAM system, 4 × 12.7 mm machine guns