The Dutch government is sending HNLMS Holland to the eastern Mediterranean, where the patrol vessel will be able to provide support in the event of the region being evacuated. HNLMS Holland is the first ship of the Holland-class offshore patrol vessels of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Together with allies, the vessel can also contribute to the establishment of a maritime corridor in order to send humanitarian aid to Gaza. HNLMS Holland is expected to leave for the Mediterranean in mid-November.
The ship was originally designed to fulfill patrol and intervention tasks against lightly armed opponents, such as pirates and smugglers. However, it also has very advanced electronic and radar surveillance capabilities which are used for military stabilization and security roles, short of outright war. Without sonar or long range weapons, it utilizes the surveillance capabilities of the Thales integrated mast, which integrates communication systems and two 4-faced phased arrays for air and surface search.
Holland was the first ship of the Holland-class offshore patrol vessels to enter service. The ship fulfilled its first task before it had actually entered service when on 15 March 2012 it returned a mirror that had been taken from Royal Charles after the Raid on the Medway. In February 2023 the Holland was used to ferry King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess of Orange Catharina-Amalia from Aruba to Curaçao during a state visit to the Dutch Caribbean.
