Veendam Changes Flag from Bahamas to Netherlands
Veendam has been registered in the Bahamas since her maiden voyage on May 25^th, 1996. A special ceremony took place on January 10th, 2006 in the Bahamas where she officially changed from the Bahamian to the Dutch flag. All HAL ships are now registered in the Netherlands! She is the fourth Veendam that will fly the proud red, white and blue from the fantail. The new port of registration is Rotterdam in the Netherlands and the name change can be seen on the stern of the ship. The name Nassau will be removed from all the lifeboats, lifebuoys, and all other equipment before she departs Freeport and be replaced with the name Rotterdam.
“There is a certain importance to a flag. It indicates that the laws of a country apply to a ship,” said Captain Albert Schoonderbeek.
During the ceremony, the Bahamian flag was first lowered while playing the Bahamian National Anthem called Forward, Onward, Upward, Together. When the Dutch flag was presented on deck, the Dutch National anthem was played, followed by the Official March of the Holland America Line, written in 1936, when the new flag was being raised.
Captain Albert Schoonderbeek made a captivating speech in honor of this transition and offered the following toast:
To the Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and her government: may they give our Veendam the protection of the flag and of the Dutch laws, and help us when ever needed.
To the Management of Holland America Line for their wise decision to bring the ship under the Dutch Flag and Registration.
And to our ship, may it sail safe and well. (meer)

Seattle, January 9, 2006 – Holland America Line will call its recently announced pair of new-builds the Signature Class, taking the name from an integral component of the premium line’s branding and the current US$225 million Signature of Excellence initiative.