Royal IHC starts midlife upgrade of Dutch Navy’s HNLMS Holland

September 16, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC has started the midlife upgrade of the Dutch Navy’s offshore patrol vessel HNLMS Holland.

Commissioned in 2012, HNLMS Holland has completed numerous missions in Dutch coastal waters and the Caribbean. Now, the ship 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, utilizing experience gained from previous projects, including the HNLMS Mercuur and the hydrographic vessels HNLMS Luymes and HNLMS Snellius.

Initial preparatory work is being carried out while the OPV remains afloat at the Kinderdijk quay. Around mid-November, HNLMS Holland will be relocated to Krimpen, where she it 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,” the company stated.

In June this year, Royal IHC and Naval Group signed an agreement for the supply of key components for the new Orka-class submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Royal IHC will be responsible for the development and delivery of modules and steel structures for all four vessels

These submarines will be operational in the next decade for national and international security tasks, including deterrence, intelligence gathering, and special operations.