Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS Holland starts midlife upgrade at Royal IHC

As of early September, the quay our Kinderdijk location has taken on a new look. Instead of the familiar brightly coloured dredging and offshore vessels, the grey silhouette of the HNLMS Holland, an Ocean-going Patrol Vessel of the Royal Netherlands Navy, now graces the waterfront.

Commissioned in 2012, HNLMS Holland has completed numerous missions in Dutch coastal waters and the Caribbean. Now, she is undergoing a Midlife Upgrade—a comprehensive renovation typically carried out approximately 15 years after delivery.

This extensive upgrade includes the renewal of all paint and preservation systems as well as several upgrades to enhance the vessel’s capabilities. The project involves a wide range of suppliers and partners, and makes use of experience gained in previous projects including the HNLMS Mercuur and Hydrographic vessels HNLMS Luymes and HNLMS Snellius.

Initial preparatory work is being carried out while the vessel remains afloat at the Kinderdijk quay. Around mid-November, HNLMS Holland will be relocated to Krimpen, where she will be placed dry and under cover for underwater works and preservation, alongside the remaining tasks.

We are proud in the continued trust placed in Royal IHC by the Royal Netherlands Navy and the opportunity to further grown our expertise in naval shipbuilding. In addition to being a trusted partner for maintenance and repair, Royal IHC is also involved in the Royal Netherlands Navy’s submarine replacement programme and supplies high-end naval systems, including Winch and Handling systems and Launch and Recovery Systems.