By
Rebecca Gibson |
Holland America Line is to name its 99,500gt cruise ship Koningsdam in honour of the company’s Dutch heritage.
Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Rotterdam as the Netherlands-American Steamship Company, the company shares a 141-year history with the Netherlands. Its 15 cruise ships all fly the country’s flag, while many of its employees are Dutch, including most of the fleet’s captains and officers.
Many of the line’s ships have been christened by members of the Dutch royal family, including Holland America’s newest ships Nieuw Amsterdam, which was named by Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima in 2010, and Eurodam, which was launched by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 2008.
Paying homage to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the first king of the Netherlands in more than a century, the newbuild’s name contains the Dutch word for ‘king’ (koning). Meanwhile ‘dam’ carries on Holland America’s tradition of using the same suffix for its entire fleet of cruise ships.
“In choosing the name Koningsdam, we are honouring our rich Dutch heritage while reflecting that we’re entering a new era as a company,” said Stein Kruse, CEO of the Holland America Group. “This new Pinnacle Class ship will be our largest, most contemporary vessel, and it was fitting to give her a name that embodies great achievement for the future, while embracing timeless tradition.”
Scheduled for delivery in February 2016, Koningsdam is the line’s first Pinncale Class vessel and is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard in Italy. The ship is the largest ever built for Holland America and will accommodate 2,650 guests and 1,025 crew members.
Featuring interiors created by New York-based hospitality designer Adam Tihany and Norway-based designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten, Koningsdam will offer various new public spaces and venues, as well as the line’s signature amenities and facilities.