Damen: Dutch Navy’s new combat support ship handed over in Den Helder

The Dutch Navy’s combat support ship (CSS) Den Helder has been handed over to the Command Materiel and IT organization (Materiel and IT Command, COMMIT), Dutch shipbuilding major Damen Naval unveiled.

CSS Den Helder was built at the Damen Naval yard in Galați, Romania, and departed from there in November 2024 for its first sea trial and the voyage to the Netherlands. The ship arrived on December 13, 2024, in Vlissingen-Oost, where Damen Naval carried out further work. On February 22, 2025, the vessel was christened by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange.

On March 14, 2025, the CSS departed the Vlissingen yard to continue the sea trials. Various sea acceptance tests (SATs) were conducted, including a replenishment at sea (RAS) with HNLMS Johan de Witt. 

The 180-meter-long ship Den Helder will accommodate a core crew of 76, with space for an additional 80 personnel.

The new ship is designed to sustain a task force of six vessels at sea, even in adverse weather conditions, by supplying fuel, food, water, ammunition, and other essential goods. To support this role, the CSS can carry more than eight million liters of fuel.

Damen noted that the work on the ship is not fully completed. The company will assist with the integration of the weapon systems with the platform systems and finalize other work.

Later this year, the ship will be formally transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy, and upon entering service, will receive the royal designation: HNLMS Den Helder.

“The CSS marks the first phase in the large-scale fleet renewal programme for the Royal Netherlands Navy. Cooperation between Damen Naval and the Netherlands Ministry of Defence is now at full speed. As a strategic partner, we are working closely with the Ministry on this and future projects, strengthening the naval shipbuilding sector,” Damen stated.