Within 25 years of its founding, the company owned a fleet of six cargo and passenger ships and operated between Holland and the Dutch East Indies. Because it was headquartered in Rotterdam and provided service to the Americas, over time the company became known as Holland America Line.
'Holland America Line proudly honors the rich and rare legacy of our past while exceeding the expectations of today’s traveler with the very best experience at sea,' said Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line’s president.
'Throughout the history of the company, our purpose has remained the same: to bring to life the dreams of those who sail with us, discovering new places, cultures and people along the journey. We look forward to the next 145 years.'
Though transportation and shipping were the primary sources of revenue, in 1895 the company offered its first vacation cruise. The line was primarily a carrier of immigrants from Europe to the United States until well after the turn of the century, bringing nearly one million people to new lives in the New World. It supported the Allied cause during two world wars and several ships served as troop carriers. In 1973, the company sold its cargo shipping division.
Through the early ‘70s, Holland America Line was the first to establish schools in Indonesia and the Philippines to train future employees. Holland America Line has been headquartered in Seattle since 1983.
Purchased by Carnival Corporation in 1989, the company embarked on a shipbuilding path that has seen the introduction of 16 new vessels over the years to the line’s fleet so far.
The legacy continues with Nieuw Statendam
Throughout its history Holland America Line has carried more than 16m passengers to vacation destinations across the globe. In December 2018, Holland America Line will welcome 99,500gt Nieuw Statendam to the fleet. Her inaugural season will be in the Caribbean and then onto Europe in summer and fall 2019.
Nieuw Statendam is the second Pinnacle Class ship for Holland America Line, joining Koningsdam, which launched in April 2016. A third Pinnacle Class ship will launch in 2021.
Holland America Line’s first ship to be called Statendam sailed in 1898, and this will be the sixth ship in the company’s history to carry the name.
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