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It is clear what Hugo de Jonge needs to do next: buy a sturdy coffee table. On 30 October, the King’s Commissioner received the very first copy of the anniversary book Naval Excellence; and at 552 pages, it’s a true coffee-table heavyweight.
The special anniversary edition tells the story of 150 years of the Royal Schelde shipyard. It features many stories never before captured in print, including the takeover by Damen Shipyards Group. The book was unveiled during a festive reception attended by guests from the Municipality of Vlissingen, the Province of Zeeland, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Defence Materiel & IT Command. In the central hall of Damen Naval’s headquarters in Vlissingen, guests were welcomed by a special performance of the Scheldeloodsenkoor (Schelde Pilots’ Choir).
King's Commissioner Hugo de Jonge and Damen Naval Managing Director Roland Briene sing along with the Schelde Pilots’ Choir.
The official part of the programme looked back on 150 years of the Royal Schelde and the maritime history of Vlissingen; the beating heart of Dutch naval shipbuilding. In his opening remarks, Managing Director Roland Briene expressed his pride in the rich Schelde heritage, “from the Castor, delivered to the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1878, right up to the recently completed Combat Support Ship HNLMS Den Helder and the construction of the new frigates.” He added: “Of course, we’re also looking to the future and the task that lies ahead. Together with the Netherlands naval shipbuilding cluster, we’re working on renewing the Royal Netherlands Navy fleet.” He concluded with a heartfelt compliment: “The most important factor that has always kept us on course is our people; the foundation of our company. For all these 150 years, they’ve been the ones who’ve made this company what it is today.”
Managing Director Roland Briene expressed his pride in the company's past, present and future.
Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen took the floor next, noting that to speak of Vlissingen is to speak of the Royal Netherlands Navy. He reflected on the impressive ships built there, vessels that hold a proud place in maritime history. “Naval ships have been built and maintained here in Vlissingen for more than 400 years. As early as 1609, an Admiralty shipyard was established here which would eventually form the basis for the company that Arie Smit founded in 1875.”
Since the Damen flag was raised in front of the head office in 2000, the company has designed and built vessels for foreign navies and governments, including Indonesia, Morocco, Mexico and Australia. “Still,” said Arnout Damen, “our bond with the Royal Netherlands Navy remains something truly special. HNLMS Johan de Witt and HNLMS Karel Doorman were both completed here in Vlissingen during the Damen era, in cooperation with the entire Dutch naval cluster. And they were most recently joined by HNLMS Den Helder. Magnificent ships that fill me with pride.”
“And finally, a huge thank you to the thousands of employees who, since 1875, have given their all to build this company. You’re fantastic. Here’s to the future; here’s to the next 150 years!” Arnout Damen
Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen praised the many iconic ships built by the Schelde and Damen Naval.
Looking to the future, he continued: “What also makes me proud is that we’re not only busy with the new Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates for the Netherlands and Belgium, but also on the brink of an even deeper collaboration between Defence, the Royal Netherlands Navy and ourselves. In doing so, we’re contributing to the renewal and strengthening of our armed forces — something these uncertain geopolitical times make more important than ever.”
In his closing words, the CEO thanked customers and suppliers for their partnership, and representatives from the municipality and province for their engagement and steadfast support. “And finally, a huge thank you to the thousands of employees who, since 1875, have given their all to build this company. In particular, I’d like to thank my current colleagues in Vlissingen. You’re fantastic. Here’s to the future; here’s to the next 150 years!”
Kommer Damen in conversation with Hugo de Jonge.
Next up was a very special guest speaker: former Schelde employee Willem Murre, who since his retirement in 2000 has devoted himself to championing recognition for the workers and shipbuilders of Vlissingen and the surrounding area. True to form, the 86-year-old appeared on stage in his white Schelde overalls with an iron rivet hammer slung over his shoulder. He recited his poem Battapor, written for the opening of the new pedestrian bridge in Dokhaven. “This poem is a remembrance of what was, and a tribute to what remains,” he said.
After the premiere of the special anniversary film, former Managing Director Hein van Ameijden, the initiator of the anniversary book, invited the writers, designers and editors to the stage. They were thanked with a bouquet of flowers before the first copy of the book was officially presented to the King’s Commissioner.
“The personal history of so many people is connected with this company, and even today Damen Naval employs over a thousand people, with enormous potential for further growth." Hugo de Jonge
Hein van Ameijden invited the contributors to the book onto the stage to thank them for their efforts.
In his speech, Hugo de Jonge emphasised how closely the city of Vlissingen, the province of Zeeland, and Damen Naval/the Schelde are intertwined. “The personal history of so many people is connected with this company, and even today Damen Naval employs over a thousand people, with enormous potential for further growth. That’s linked to a rather unfortunate reason: we live in a very unsettled world. And in such a world, we must invest heavily in our defence and resilience. Damen Naval plays an incredibly important role in that.”
Guests of honour: Arnout and Godelief Damen, Mayor of Vlissingen Bas van den Tillaar and his wife Annelies, and Hein and Kyong Ok van Ameijden.
He also underlined Zeeland’s significance for the Netherlands and the country’s strategic independence. “Our dependence on other nations – nations we’d rather not depend on – makes us vulnerable on many fronts,” he explained. “If the Netherlands wants to reduce that dependency, whether in industry, energy or security, then we must invest in Zeeland. That’s why we launched the Zeeland 2050 project. We need each other enormously. Damen Naval is the only company in the Netherlands that designs and builds complex naval ships. If we are to realise our NATO investments, we will need Damen Naval to make that happen.”
Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen Managing Director Michiel de Vliegher presented Roland Briene with a framed Schelde scarf as a gift.
He closed by joking that he is already looking forward to the next anniversary book. “It’s wonderful to celebrate this milestone together, and when Zeeland 2050 comes around, I hope we’ll be celebrating the 175th anniversary too. There seems to be a rhythm. There was an anniversary book in 2000, one now in 2025, and I am sure we will have another cool book in 2050. Time for me to start shopping for a new coffee table!”
The evening concluded with a reception and walking dinner.
Guests immediately began leafing through the impressive anniversary book.
Text: Eefje Koppers