Netherlands Navy HNLMS Vlissingen Delivered

The mine countermeasures vessel HNLMS Vlissingen was delivered to the Royal Netherlands Navy at Den Helder on 27 February 2026, the second hull overall under the Belgian-led rMCM programme and the first destined for the Dutch fleet. The handover marked the first time Belgium has delivered a warship to another nation, a milestone officials described as reflecting the depth of the binational partnership. The 82-metre, 2,800-tonne design operates as a mothership for a toolbox of unmanned surface, underwater and aerial systems, allowing mine clearance to be conducted at a standoff distance from the minefield.