Holland America Line Marks 150th Anniversary with Royalty, Fanfare and Dual-Ship Events
Above: Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands (right); Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha (left); and Roel Dusseldorp, General Manager of Hotel New York, pour champagne over the commemorative 150th anniversary bell.
On April 18, Holland America Line’s flagship Rotterdam arrived at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, following a 150th Anniversary crossing that departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 3. The ship’s arrival on the exact date of Holland America Line’s 150th birthday kicked off all-day celebrations that included royalty, local dignitaries, port officials and guests who commemorated the special day.
Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha was joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb and descendants of Holland America Line’s original founders for a celebration at Hotel New York, home to Holland America Line’s original headquarters from 1901 to 1977.
Rotterdam VII arrives to the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on April 18, 2023, marking the 150th anniversary of Holland America Line.
“The celebration of 150 years is about more than our history, it’s about how we are building on the legacy of a great brand to make it relevant for the next 150 years,” said Antorcha. “From those first early days, we built our reputation on the care we provided to every person who stepped on board. And through the decades, whether that person was an immigrant, a titan of industry, a soldier or a vacationer, each of them was treated as though they were a guest in our own home. It is still a hallmark of our brand.
“The fabric of history is woven from the threads of millions of stories, and at the heart of each of those stories is a person,” Antorcha continued. “I am certain that there are many chapters still to be written. And I hope that decades from now, those who come after us will gather on this very spot at Hotel New York to share them.”
From the ship’s arrival through an overnight stay, memorable moments marked the milestone. Inside a room that once collected luggage for immigrants in the early 1900s, Holland America Line presented a commemorative 150th Anniversary bell to be permanently displayed at Hotel New York. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet poured champagne over the bell, which is a Holland America Line tradition usually reserved for a new ship launch.
Holland America Line worked closely with PostNL, the postal office of the Netherlands, to design a collectable 150th Anniversary gold-foil stamp that was revealed by Bob van Ierland, director of mail, Netherlands, at the ceremony. The stamp, designed by Frank Janse, features an illustration of two iconic ships from the company’s long history: Rotterdam VII, Holland America Line’s newest ship, and Rotterdam I, its first ship. The limited-edition stamp is available for purchase throughout the Netherlands.
Left to right: Bob van Ierland, Director of Mail, Netherlands; President Gus Antorcha; and Nico Bleichrodt, Vice President of International Sales, with the stamp commemorating Holland America Line’s 150th anniversary.
In addition, members of one of Holland America Line’s founding families presented an original company share that will be kept as part of a special collection in the Rotterdam City Archives. Attendees at the Hotel New York ceremony included Holland America Line team members and more than 60 of the line’s top Mariners, guests who have sailed at least 1,400 days on the line’s ships.
Johan George Reuchlin (left) and Henri Reuchlin (right), members of one of Holland America Line’s founding families, join Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb on stage to present an original company share that will be part of a special collection in the Rotterdam City Archives.
Left to right: Jantje Steenhuis, Director of City Archives, receives original Holland America Line stock share from Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb.
Following a Gala dinner on board Rotterdam VII, Antorcha invited the ship’s guests to a party around the Lido Pool where he toasted to Holland America Line’s anniversary alongside ship’s Captain Bas van Dreumel and Mai Elmar, executive director of Cruise Port Rotterdam and the ship’s madrina.
“To the builders, architects, visionaries and explorers who have brought us to today. To our generations of crew who have seen our guests from shore to shore. And most importantly, to all of the passengers and guests who have trusted us along the way. Cheers to 150 years and many more to come,” toasted Antorcha.
As a finale to the evening’s events, the city of Rotterdam’s Erasmus Bridge was illuminated with a special light display honoring Holland America Line’s 150th Anniversary. Following the lighting of the bridge, Antorcha made his way to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and joined Zuiderdam and Grand World Voyage guests around the Lido Pool to commemorate Holland America Line’s birthday. The additional nine ships in Holland America Line’s fleet also held anniversary parties on board for guests.
My only daughter and I were invited to sail with Holland America Line on ship Volendam several years ago. Since we both myself and my daughter are writers, we pitched the story to a well-known Canadian magazine, Zoomer, published by Moses Znaimer, a Tajik-born Canadian media executive of jewish descent. Zoomer magazine accepted the travel story pitch. Our experience was first class all the way in terms of service, cuisine and overall sailing experience. One of our fond memories is of learning how to play the didgeridoo, fitting as we were sailing to New Zealand and Australia. Memorable to say the very least. Thank-you and Merci to Holland America Line from Canada…and our hats are off to Holland America Line as in 2023 is the 150th Anniversary.
Congratulations to Holland America Line on their 150th Anniversary! What an incredible milestone for this iconic brand. From their humble beginnings to becoming a world-renowned cruise line, Holland America Line has a rich history of providing exceptional service and unforgettable experiences to their guests. Cheers to 150 years of success, and may there be many more to come!
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