Urk was named. And Staphorst. Even Wildervank and Gemert once had a warship bearing the name of these villages. But the country's naval base, as Den Helder is officially called, fared poorly until recently. No sturdy frigates, patrol ships – no, not even a minesweeper ever bore the name of the home port for the Dutch naval fleet.
Until now. We finally have, after hundreds of years, His Majesty's Den Helder. That is to say: starting in October, Willem Alexander may call it 'his' warship. The official commissioning will follow then. And Den Helder will finally have 'his' naval ship too. And what a ship it is. A sailing tanker, mini-hospital, grocery store, helicopter airfield, and harbor for small boats all at once. Cost: around half a billion euros. But you certainly get what you pay for.
The Den Helder was christened in February by Crown Princess Amalia. Naturally, the press covered the event. I couldn't see it, but I did wonder how those reporters and photographers were dressed. For I remember that in a previous life, I had to report on the swearing-in of Willem Alexander as a naval officer in Den Helder, aboard the then-Hr. Ms. De Ruyter. His mother was there too. The Government Information Service ordered beforehand that all journalists had to wear a jacket and tie. Well, I didn't have a tie, so that caused a slight panic. In the end, this guy stood dressed up in a suit right next to the Queen. That is to say: at a very, very great distance from Her Majesty. I don't think she even caught a glimpse of my jacket and tie.
Back to the Den Helder. Apart from all those tasks, it naturally provides a bit of promotion too. Granted, people in Norway or Spain won't immediately flock to the Den Helder in droves once the ship has called at a port there. But with a bit of luck, someone will Google to find out what the name means. So, a floating billboard that will soon be visiting half the world. That’ll teach them in Wildervank, Staphorst, Urk, and Drunen!
RONALD DEN BOER
