Holland America Line Marks 150th Anniversary with Celebration in Rotterdam

Holland America Line marked its 150th Anniversary yesterday with a special celebration as its flagship vessel Rotterdam arrived at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The ship had just completed a special anniversary crossing that departed on April 3, and arrived on the exact date of Holland America Line's 150th birthday. 

To celebrate, Holland America hosted an all-day celebration with visits from royalty, local dignitaries, port officials, and special guests. Cruise 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 the Hotel New York, which was home to the cruise line’s original headquarters from 1901-1977.

"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.” 

Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Roel Dusseldorp (GM of Hotel New York), and Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha present a commemorative bell - Photo by Holland America Line

Following the ship’s grand arrival into Rotterdam, celebrations were marked throughout the day as well as an overnight stay at Hotel New York. Among the highlights was the presentation of a commemorative 150th Anniversary bell to be permanently displayed at the hotel, inside a room that once collected luggage for immigrants in the early 1900s. Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet poured champagne over the bell, a similar Holland America Line tradition usually reserved for ship christenings. 

Other event highlights included the presentation of an original company share by members of one of Holland America Line's founding families. This share will be kept as part of a special collection in the Rotterdam City Archives. Following a Gala dinner on board Rotterdam, President Antorcha invited guests to a party around the Lido Pool where he toasted to Holland America Line's anniversary with ship Captain Bas van Dreumel and Mai Elmar, executive director of Cruise Port Rotterdam and the ship's madrina. 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. 

Outside of the celebrations onboard the Rotterdam, all other ships in the Holland America fleet hosted their own special commemorative 150th Anniversary parties for the evening.

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